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H I  S  T  O  R  Y 


SECOND     REGIMENT 


NEW  HAMPSHIRE  VOLUNTEERS: 


ITS  CAMPS,  MARCHES  AND  BATTLES. 


BY   MARTIN    A.  HAYNES, 

\  \ 
PRIVATE  OF  COMPANY  I. 


We  have  shared  our  blanket  and  tent  together, 

And  have  marched  and  fought  in  all  kinds  of  weather, 

And  hungry  and  full  we  have  been; 
Had  days  of  battle  and  days  of  rest, 
But  this  memory  I  cling  to  and  love  the  best,— 

WK  HAVE  DRUNK  FROM  THE   SAME   CANTEEN'. 

—  MILES  O'REii.EY. 


MANCHESTER,   N.  H. : 

CHARLES      F.      LIVINGSTON,      PRINTER 
I   8  f,  5  . 


.5 


Entered  according  to  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by 

CHARLES     F.    LIVINGSTON, 
in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire. 


THE     BRAVE     MEN     OF     THE     SECOND, 
WHOSE     CONDUCT 

EEFLECTED      SO      MUCH      CREDIT      UPON 

THEMSELVES,     THEIR     REGIMENT, 

AND     THEIR     STATE, 

Cjjis    Wolnmt 

IS  RESPECTFULLY  DEDICATED. 


PREFACE. 


THE  gallant  men  to  whom  this  volume  is  dedicated  have,  by 
their  heroic  deeds  upon  a  score  of  battle  fields,  engraven  their  his 
tory  in  imperishable  letters,  upon  tablets  more  enduring  than 
marble — upon  the  memories  of  a  grateful  people.  In  view  of  this 
fact  it  were  vain  for  the  historian  to  attempt  to  add  to  or  detract 
from  their  fair  fame,  and  the  author  of  the  following  pages,  in 
presenting  them  to  the  public,  claims  only  to  give  a  plain, 
straightforward  account  of  what  the  Second  New  Hampshire 
Regiment  endured  and  accomplished  while  following  the  "  Old 
Flag"  over  the  hills  and  through  the  vales  of  Maryland  and 
Virginia.  He  refrains  from  remarks  of  praise  or  censure  upon  the 
conduct  of  General  Officers,  whose  sphere  of  action  is  so  far  above 
that  of  a  private  that  it  would  be  presumption  to  decry  what  was 
generally  so  little  understood  by  those  not  high  in  authority. 

The  history  commences  with  the  organization  of  the  Regiment 
in  1861,  and  is  carried  forward  until  the  muster  out  of  the  origi 
nal  members,  not  re-enlisted,  in  1864.  Although  the  Second 
New  Hampshire  Regiment  still  existed  as  an  organization  upon 
the  army  rolls,  and  many  of  the  old  members  still  remained  to 
officer  it,  the  interest  with  which  the  people  of  New  Hampshire 
watched  its  course  sensibly  diminished  from  that  time,  from  the 
fact  that  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  those  remaining  in  the 
regiment  were  men  whose  interests  were  not  identified  with  those 


VI  PREFACE. 

of  New  Hampshire — substitutes  from  New  York  and  Baltimore, 
importations  direct  from  foreign  ports,  of  every  nationality  and 
tongue,  who  cared  little  whether  New  Hampshire  were  honored  or 
disgraced  by  their  conduct. 

For  the  members  of  the  "  Old  Second  "  and  their  friends,  this 
volume  is  especially  intended.  Errors  and  omissions  have  without 
doubt  occurred,  unavoidable  from  the  scarcity  of  reliable  doc 
uments  relating  to  the  Regiment,  and  if,  among  the  rock -bound 
hills  of  the  Old  Granite  State,  some  rugged  and  stalwart  veteran 
should  read  his  own  name  in  the  list  of  killed,  the  author  would 
assure  him  that  the  pleasure  of  taking  his  hand  with  the  strong 
grasp  of  friendship  would  be  far  preferable  to  recording  his  death, 
and  in  apology  for  such  error  respectfully  refer  him  to  the  Report 
of  the  Adjutant  General  of  the  State  of  New  Hampshire,  to 
which  the  author  is  greatly  indebted  for  the  regimental  roster 
and  names  of  enlisted  men,  although  making  such  corrections  as 
his  acquaintance  with  the  facts  would  warrant  him  in  doing. 

If,  by  a  perusal  of  the  following  pages,  a  smile  is  called  upon 
the  face  of  some  old  comrade  for  the  pleasing  recollections  awak 
ened  of  by -gone  times,  when  "marching  to  the  music  of  the 
Union,"  or  a  tear  is  dropped  in  memory  of  the  fallen,  who  sealed 
with  their  life-blood  their  devotion  to  the  "starry  banner,"  and 
whose  graves  lie  so  thickly  strewn  along  the  banks  of  the  Poto 
mac,  the  Chickahominy,  the  Rappahannock,  and  the  James,  the 
author's  highest  ambition  will  be  satisfied,  and  he  will  retire  with 
the  pleasing  consciousness  of  having  contributed  his  mite  in 
memory  of  the  "  GALLANT  SECOND." 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

PAGE. 

FROM  PORTSMOUTH  TO  WASHINGTON, 9 

CHAPTER    II. 
ADVANCE  INTO  VIRGINIA, 13 

CHAPTER    III. 
BATTLE  OF  BULL  RUN, 18 

CHAPTER    IY. 
RETREAT  FROM  BULL  RUN, 27 

CHAPTER    V. 

BLADENSBURG  AND  BUDD'S  FERRY, 32 

CHAPTER    VI. 
THE  SIEGE  OF  YORKTOWN, 41 

CHAPTER    VII. 
THE  BATTLE  OF  WILIJAMSBURG, 50 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

IN  THE  CHICKAHOMINY  SWAMP G2 

CHAPTER    IX. 

RETREAT  FROM  FAIR  OAKS, 74 


VIII  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    X. 

PAGK. 

HARRISON'S  LANDING, 84 

CHAPTER    XI. 
SECOND  BULL  RUN  CAMPAIGN, 93 

CHAPTER    XII. 
FROM  ALEXANDRIA  TO  FALMOUTH, 112 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
BATTLE  OF  FREDERICKSBURG, 117 

CHAPTER    XIV. 
FALMOUTH  AND  NEW  HAMPSHIRE, 126 

CHAPTER    XV. 

MARCH  TO  GETTYSBURG, 131 

CHAPTER    XYI. 
BATTLE  OF  GETTYSBURG, 137 

CHAPTER    XVII. 
PURSUIT  OF  LEE, 147 

CHAPTER    XVIII. 
POINT  LOOKOUT, 154 

CHAPTER    XIX. 

BUTLER'S  CAMPAIGN  ON  THE  JAMES, 163 

CHAPTER    XX. 
COLD  HARBOR, 173 

APPENDIX. 

ROSTER  OF  OFFICERS  AND  NAMES  OF  ENLISTED  MEN,    179 


CHAPTER    I. 


FROM      PORTSMOUTH      TO      WASHINGTON 


NDER  the  call  of  President  LINCOLN 
for  seventy -five  thousand  three  -  months 
men,  which  immediately  followed  the 
fall  of  Sumter,  New  Hampshire's  quota 
was  one  regiment.  But  such  was  the 
alacrity  with  which  the  people  sprang 
to  arms,  that  the  First  Regiment  was  soon  filled,  and 
still  the  companies  and  squads  of  eager,  patriotic  men 
came  pouring  in  to  the  rendezvous.  Accordingly  a  new 
camp  was  established  at  Portsmouth,  and  active  prepara 
tions  made  for  the  organization  of  the  Second  Regiment. 
THOMAS  P.  PIERCE,  of  Manchester,  a  man  of  great 
popularity  and  who  had  seen  severe  and  honorable  service, 
in  the  Mexican  War,  was  appointed  Colonel.  The  old 
1 


10  SECOND    N.  II .  REGIMENT. 

rope -walks  in  the  southern  part  of  the  city  were  fitted 
up  as  barracks,  and  it  was  but  a  short  time  before  more 
than  the  requisite  number  of  men  were  in  camp. 

These  men  were  all  enlisted  for  three  months,  but 
before  they  could  be  thoroughly  organized  or  mustered  into 
the  service,  the  President's  call  for  three  hundred  thousand 
three  -  years  men  was  made,  and  the  further  enlistment  of 
three -months  men  discontinued.  This  was  a  contingency 
entirely  unlooked  for.  Go  for  three  years  or  not  at  all, 
was  the  imperative  command.  The  business  of  some 
would  not  admit  of  so  extended  an  absence,  while  others, 
perhaps,  thought  that  three  years  out  of  the  prime  of 
their  lives  was  too  much  to  give  even  to  their  country ; 
but,  to  their  credit  be  it  said,  the  mass  of  the  men  put 
their  names  down  for  three  years.  Col.  PIERCE  resigning 
his  position,  Hon.  OILMAN  MARSTON  was  appointed  Colo 
nel,  with  FRANK  S.  FISKE  as  Lieut.  Colonel,  and  JOSIAH 
STEVENS,  JR.,  as  Major. 

It  is  not  my  design  to  enlarge  upon  the  camp  life  at 
Portsmouth.  For  information  on  that  subject  I  would 
refer  the  reader  to  the  papers  of  the  time  or  to  the  good 
citizens  of  Portsmouth.  They  can  tell  of  the  "rag -hash 
war,"  in  which  the  entire  company  of  "  Abbott  Guards" 
were  confined  in  their  quarters  two  days  for  "mutinous 
conduct;"  specifications  —  that  they  wouldn't  eat  the  hash 
ration  furnished  at  the  Commissary's,  but  marched  to  the 
city  in  a  body  and  procured  more  palatable  food,  &c. 
They  can  also  tell  you  of  the  numberless  pranks  of  the 
boys  in  gray  swallow  -  tailed  coats,  and  how  patiently  they 
were  all  borne,  because  their  authors  were  brave  fellows 
and  were  going  to  fight  the  battles  of  their  country. 
These  are  all  interesting  in  their  way,  but  have  been 


FROM   PORTSMOUTH   TO  WASHINGTON.  11 

written  and  re -written  until  they  are  as  familiar  as  house 
hold  words.  My  province  is,  rather,  to  give  the  record  of 
the  regiment's  glory  —  its  fierce  conflicts,  its  weary 
marches,  and  reminiscences  of  those  whose  lives  were 
given  up  beneath  the  shadow  of  its  flag. 

On  the  20th  day  of  June,  1861,  the  regiment  left 
Portsmouth  for  the  seat  of  war.  The  joy  of  the  men 
was  only  tempered  by  the  thought  that  many  were  taking 
their  last  farewell  of  friends  and  relatives.  They  had 
entertained  great  fears  that  they  would  not  be  sent  on  in 
season  to  help  crush  out  the  rebellion,  but  now  their  long 
ings  for  active  service  were  to  be  gratified. 

Arriving  in  Boston  we  were  treated  with  open-hearted 
hospitality  by  the  "Sons  of  New  Hampshire."  After 
being  reviewed  upon  the  Common  by  Governor  ANDREW 
a  collation  was  spread  in  Tremont  Temple,  where  we 
listened  to  patriotic  speeches  from  prominent  sons  of  the 
Old  Granite  State. 

We  were  also  handsomely  received  in  New  York,  and 
presented  with  a  beautiful  flag,  the  same  flag  which  for  so 
many  months  braved  the  powers  of  the  elements,  which 
was  borne  through  battle  -  flame  and  smoke,  until  its 
bright  colors  were  faded  and  its  folds  rent  and  torn,  but 
was  never  deserted  or  disgraced  by  those  who  fought 
beneath  it. 

At  Jersey  City,  to  our  infinite  disgust,  we  were  placed 
on  cattle  cars,  two  days  rations  of  not  over  -  sweet  beef 
were  dealt  out  to  us,  and  we  went  whirling  off  for  Balti 
more.  The  cattle  cars  and  bad  beef  were,  of  course,  the 
cause  of  a  great  deal  of  grumbling,  but  the  reception  we 
met  with  while  passing  through  Pennsylvania  restored 
good  humor  to  the  crowd.  The  sturdy  Dutch  farmers 


SECOND    N.  II .  REGIMENT. 

along  the  route,  wherever  the  train  stopped,  brought  forth 
their  kegs  of  "  lager,"  while  their  wives  made  a  generous 
distribution  of  bread  and  other  edibles,  all  "free  for 
netting,  because  zey  was  good  Union  men  all  overs." 

The  great  disappointment  of  the  trip  was  in  getting 
through  Baltimore  without  having  a  fight  with  the  rabble, 
but  the  city  was  by  that  time  well  under  the  control  of 
the  United  States  authorities.  At  about  noon  of  the  23d, 
we  were  landed  safely  in  Washington,  and  by  10  o'clock 
at  night  were  in  camp  at  Calorama  Hill,  a  mile  or  so  to 
the  north  of  the  city,  as  weary  a  set  of  men  as  could  well 
be  found,  but  elated  with  the  idea  that  at  last  we  had 
reached  our  goal,  "the  seat  of  war."  The  only  thing 
which  had  seriously  marred  the  pleasure  of  our  trip  was 
an  accident,  by  which,  while  we  were  passing  through 
New  Jersey,  Lieut.  CHARLES  W.  WALKER  of  Co.  B,  fell 
from  the  cars  and  was  so  badly  crushed  that  he  died 
soon  after.  He  was  the  first  victim  from  our  ranks,  and 
his  memory  is  cherished  as  fondly  as  those  who  have  fallen 
upon  the  field  of  battle. 


CHAPTER    II. 


ADVANCE       INTO       VIRGINIA. 


AMP  was  laid  out  the  morning  after  our 
arrival,  and  in  a  short  time  the  hill  -  side 
was  covered  with  the  canvas  residences 
of  a  thousand  men.  Camp  guards 
were  posted,  piles  of  hard  bread,  beef, 
pork  and  other  "commissaries"  fur 
nished,  and  we  went  into  a  course  of 
training  for  coming  campaigns.  The 
new  camp  was  named  "Camp  Sul 
livan,"  in  honor  of  New  Hampshire's 
celebrated  Revolutionary  general.  Our 
routine  of  drill  was  the  same  adopted  with  all  green 
regiments.  Long  drills  were  the  order  of  the  day  and 
long  rolls  the  order  of  the  night.  The  camp  was  in  a 
continual  furore  over  stories  of  spies  seen  lurking  about, 
and  woe  was  sure  to  betide  the  unfortunate  peanut  ped 
dler  or  trinket  vender  who  came  near  our  sentries  after 
tattoo.  All  this  vigilance  was  more  conducive  to  the 
good  of  the  service  than  to  the  comfort  of  the  victims, 
some  few  having  been  severely  injured  by  the  excitable 
sentries. 


14  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

Nearly  a  month  of  this  experience  was  gone  through 
with  before  we  had  the  pleasure  of  being  led  into  Vir 
ginia  against  the  boasting  rebels.  In  the  meantime 
we  were  brigaded  with  three  as  gallant  regiments  as 
ever  wore  army  blue  —  the  First  and  Second  Rhode  Island 
and  the  Seventy  -  First  New  York,  all  under  command  of 
AMBROSE  E.  BTIRNSIDE,  then  Colonel  of  the  Second  Rhode 
Island.  The  Second  Rhode  Island  Battery  was  also  attached 
to  the  Brigade,  and  a  battery  of  two  Dahlgren  boat  how 
itzers,  served  by  men  from  the  Seventy  -  First  New  York. 

On  the  16th  day  of  July  we  marched  from  camp  to 
participate  in  the  short  campaign  which  ended  so  suddenly 
and  so  disastrously  at  Bull  Run.  The  regiment  had 
hardly  ever  shown  as  full  ranks  as  on  that  morning. 
Men  who  for  weeks  had  been  regular  attendants  at  the 
Surgeon's  call  for  "ye  halt,  ye  blind,  lame,  sick  and 
lazy,"  became  suddenly  rejuvinated,  and  would  not  think 
of  such  a  thing  as  being  left  behind  when  the  "  death 
blow"  was  to  be  given  the  rebellion.  So,  with  full  ranks, 
and  overflowing  with  patriotism,  we  marched  across  Long 
Bridge  into  Virginia,  the  band  playing  "Dixie"  with 
might  and  main,  and  the  soldiers  making  the  air  resound 
with  their  songs  and  shouts  of  mirth. 

The  day  was  hot  and  sultry,  and  many  men  fell  from 
the  ranks  exhausted  as  we  toiled  over  Arlington  Heights. 
The  woods  along  the  road  had  been  cut  down  to  give  the 
gunners  upon  the  forts  an  unobstructed  view  of  any  hos 
tile  approach,  so  that  when  at  length  we  entered  the  shady 
little  glen  where  Arlington  Mills  were  situated,  it  was 
indeed  a  sudden  transition  from  perfect  misery  to  soothing 
comfort.  A  picturesque  little  spot  it  was  then,  such  as 
an  artist  would  not  fail  to  find  room  for  in  his  sketch 


ADVANCE    INTO    VIRGINIA.  15 

book.  The  dilapidated  mill  was  mossy  and  gray  with 
age,  and  the  water  that  fell  in  glistening  cascades  over  the 
motionless  wheel  was  so  clear  and  cool  that  one  involun 
tarily  peered  into  the  depths  of  the  pool  below,  expecting 
to  see  the  spotted  sides  of  the  active  trout  in  so  favorable 
a  haunt. 

Our  camp  that  night  was  at  Bailey's  Cross  Roads,  and 
the  march  was  resumed  early  the  next  morning.  Evidences 
of  the  recent  occupation  of  the  country  by  the  rebels 
soon  began  to  appear,  for  at  various  points  the  road  had 
been  obstructed  by  felled  trees,  the  removal  of  which  cost 
the  pioneers  much  hard  labor.  At  about  eleven  o'clock 
in  the  forenoon  the  word  was  passed  down  the  line  that 
the  advance  had  come  upon  a  rebel  earthwork,  and  that 
the  chances  for  a  fight  were  promising.  The  column  was 
halted  and  formed  in  sections.  For  a  minute,  the  ring  of 
rammers  driving  home  the  charges  in  thousands  of  guns 
was  heard,  and  then  the  column  pressed  rapidly  on.  We 
soon  came  in  sight  of  the  work,  a  heavy  battery  of  sand 
bags,  but  it  was  deserted.  No  cannon  belched  defiance 
from  its  embrasures,  no  bristling  line  of  rifles  rattled 
death  into  the  advancing  column.  All  was  quiet  as  the 
grave,  until  we  entered  the  deserted  work,  when  shout 
after  shout  arose  over  our  "bloodless  victory."  Immedi 
ately  to  the  rear  was  a  camp  of  bough  huts,  which  had 
been  deserted  in  such  haste  that  many  valuable  articles 
were  left  scattered  around.  About  a  mile  beyond  was 
the  little  village  of  Fairfax  Court  House,  which  we  entered 
as  was  becoming  great  conquerors,  with  flaunting  banners 
and  serried  columns,  while  the  bands  played  patriotic  airs 
for  the  edification  of  the  few  secesh  who  remained.  The 
brigade  marched  into  the  village  green  and  stacked  their 


10  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

arms,  while  the  flag  of  the  Second  was  flung  out  from 
the  most  conspicuous  point  in  the  vicinity  —  the  cupola  of 
the  Court  House.  No  sooner  were  the  ranks  broken  than 
the  entire  brigade  resolved  itself  into  an  army  of  foragers. 
The  deserted  rebel  camps  in  the  vicinity  were  thoroughly 
ransacked  for  hard -tack,  bacon,  &c. ;  the  squeals  and 
shrieks  of  suffering  porkers  filled  the  air,  and  little  clouds 
of  smoke  in  various  quarters  indicated  where  hives  of 
bees  were  suffering  "  martyrdom  at  the  stake,"  their  stores 
of  sweets  proving  their  ruin.  But  sometimes  the  bees 
had  their  minute  of  revenge,  for  we  saw  more  than  one 
fellow  with  honey  dripping  from  his  hands,  making  across 
the  fields  with  strides  more  vigorous  than  elegant,  and 
leaping  five -rail  fences  with  apparently  no  more  trouble 
than  if  they  had  been  so  many  straws,  followed  by  clouds 
of  the  vicious  little  insects,  who  not  being  thoroughly 
smothered,  had  revived  and  attacked  their  enemy  with  a 
vigor  which  admitted  of  nothing  but  an  inglorious  retreat. 
Not  the  least  interesting  of  the  captures  -was  a  rebel 
mail  bag.  The  contents  were  most  decidedly  Southern, 
the  letters  being  filled  with  those  inordinate  boastings  and 
conceits  with  which  the  rebels  plumed  themselvs  until 
Yankee  steel  had  taught  them  to  respect  Yankee  valor. 
The  recent  dashing  charges  which  Lieut.  TOMPKINS  and 
his  dragoons  had  made  into  the  village,  over  and  through 
their  whole  force,  was  often  spoken  of,  and  they  always 
found  much  consolation  in  the  idea  that  their  thousands 
gave  the  few  Yankee  squadrons  "  as  much  as  they  could 
handle."  Well,  those  were  days  when  each  party  mis 
judged  the  other:  while  they  looked  upon  us  as  arrant 
co\vards,  we  were  equally  confident  that  the  campaign 
which  we  had  inaugurated  was  to  end  in  the  defeat  of  the 


ADVANCE    INTO    VIRGINIA.  17 

rebel  armies,  the  capture  of  Richmond,  and  the  complete 
overthrow  of  the  Confederate  Government.  We  could 
not  foresee  the  four  years  of  terrible  war  then  but  just 
begun,  during  which  armies  should  be  raised  in  which  the 
"  Grand  Army  of  McDowELL "  would  hardly  form  a 
respectable  division. 

Early  Thursday  morning,  the  eighteenth,  the'  march 
was  resumed,  and  we  felt  our  way  slowly  and  cautiously, 
towards  Centreville.  The  woods  along  the  route  we  found 
to  be  swarming  with  swine,  those  gaunt,  savage  nonde 
scripts  peculiar  to  the  South,  which  are  allowed  to  run 
wild  and  subsist  upon  such  acorns,  nuts  and  repti^s  as 
they  can  find.  The  numerous  halts  gave  the  boys  plenty 
of  opportunities  to  hunt  these  uncivilized  Confederates, 
and  they  improved  them  to  such  an  extent  that  our  line  of 
march  might  easily  have  been  traced  by  the  slaughtered 
porcines  that  lined  the  road. 

It  was  on  the  afternoon  of  this  day  the  first  serious 
encounter  with  the  rebels  was  had,  in  which  a  portion  of 
the  First  Massachusetts  regiment  encountered  a  heavy  force 
of  rebels  near  Blackburn's  Ford,  on  Bull  Run  creek. 
After  a  sharp  little  fight,  in  which  several  men  were  killed 
and  wounded,  they  retired.  Persons  a  little  out  of  the 
noise  and  confusion  of  our  column  could  distinctly  hear 
the  roar  of  cannon  and  the  rattle  of  musketry.  The 
excitement  in  our  ranks  grew  as  we  advanced,  and  when, 
that  night,  in  camp  near  Centreville,  we  heard  from  some 
of  the  wounded  the  story  of  the  engagement,  the  fighting 
spirits  of  our  boys  arose  to  fever  height. 


1* 


CHAPTER    III. 


BATTLE      OF      BULL      RUN. 


OR  two  days  we  lay  in  our  camp  near 
Centreville,  chafing  with  impatience  to  be 
let  loose  upon  the  enemy,  and  at  length 
the  orders  came.  At  one  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  ill-fated  twenty -first  of 
July,  our  brigade  was  roused  from  its 
slumbers,  blankets  were  hastily  rolled,  and 
we  crept  off  in  the  bright  starlight  in 
the  direction  of  Centreville.  »We  passed 
many  regiments  by  the  roadside  all  up 
and  in  readiness  for  the  march,  and  when 
the  morning  sun  arose  the  heights  of  Centreville  were 
far  to  our  rear,  and  we  were  leading  the  brave,  light- 
hearted  division  of  HUNTER  in  the  direction  of  Bull  Run. 
The  plan  of  this  day's  work  is,  perhaps,  better  known 
than  that  of  any  other  of  the  war.  In  a  few  words,  it 
consisted  of  a  strong  demonstration  upon  the  enemy's 
front,  while  the  main  attack  was  to  be  made  upon  the 
rear  of  his  position  which  was  to  be  gained  by  means 
of  a  road  making  a  \vide  detour  to  the  right,  and  coming 
upon  the  extreme  left. 


BATTLE    OF    BULL    RUN.  19 

Arriving  at  the  point  where  the  two  roads  converged, 
HUNTER'S  Division  took  the  one  to  the  right  while  the 
other  troops  kept  steadily  along  the  main  road. 

The  forenoon  was  by  this  time  well  advanced,  and  the 
sun  was  pouring  his  rays  down  fiercely  upon  the  toiling 
columns.  Far  away  to  the  left,  in  the  direction  of 
Manassas,  clouds  of  dust  were  arising  where  the  Confed 
erate  troops  were  marching  to  meet  the  new  movement  of 
our  forces. 

We  got  our  first  "reliable  information"  of  the  pros 
pects  ahead  from  one  of  the  natives,  a  female,  who 
probably  classed  herself  as  one  of  the  whites,  and  who 
possibly  might  have  been  after  a  vigorous  use  of  soap  and 
water.  She  stood  in  the  door  of  a  dilapidated  log  hovel, 
and  took  delight  in  informing  us  that  there  were  enough 
Confederates  a  little  ways  ahead  to  whip  us  all  out,  and 
that  her  husband  was  among  them.  And  hardly  were  we 
out  of  her  sight  before  the  roar  of  a  heavy  gun  came  from 
the  direction  the  left  column  had  taken.  We  all  felt  that 
this  was  the  prelude  of  a  conflict  to  come,  and  scores  of 
watches  were  drawn  to  note  the  precise  time  when  the 
first  gun  was  fired. 

We  toiled  on  over  the  narrow,  uneven  road,  expecting 
every  moment  to  hear  the  sharp  crack  of  our  skirmishers' 
rifles.  At  about  half -past  nine,  while  the  men  were 
improving  a  short  halt  by  filling  their  canteens  from  the 
muddy  waters  of  a  little  creek,  an  aide  of  General  BURN- 
SIDE  dashed  down  the  line  with  the  information  that  the 
enemy  had  been  discovered  in  strong  force  but  a  short 
distance  ahead.  We  proceeded  nearly  half  a  mile  further 
when  the  ominous  dispositions  for  battle,  which  we 
afterwards  learned  to  read  so  well,  were  made.  The 


20  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

two  Rhode  Island  Regiments  suddenly  filed  from  the  road 
into  the  fields  at  the  left  and  disappeared  in  a  belt  of 
woods  to  the  front,  but  we  kept  steadily  on  up  the  road. 

Scarcely  had  we  entered  the  leafy  cover  of  the  woods 
when,  without  any  previous  warning,  a  cannon  ball  came 
screaming  and  crashing  through  the  trees  many  feet  over 
our  heads.  This  was  the  first  time  our  ears  had  been 
greeted  with  the  sound  of  a  rebel  missile,  and  not  a  man 
in  the  regiment  but  made  an  involuntary  obeisance  to  the 
hostile  messenger.  Its  harsh  voice  had  scarcely  died 
away  in  the  depths  of  the  forest  when  another  followed 
directly  in  its  wake,  and  almost  at  the  same  instant  we 
heard  the  fierce  rattle  of  rifles  just  ahead.  The  Rhode 
Islanders  had  found  the  enemy.  The  excitement  was 
now  wild  and  unbounded.  Off  from  our  shoulders  went 
blankets  and  other  superfluous  baggage  (we  intended  to 
come  back  for  them  when  the  little  job  ahead  was 
finished,)  and  we  went  tearing  up  the  road  at  a  speed 
which  in  a  few  moments  launched  us  from  the  depths  of 
the  woods  upon  the  field  of  Bull  Run.  A  grand  panorama 
of  the  opening  scene  of  the  battle  was  spread  before  us. 
The  Rhode  Islanders,  in  the  field  to  the  left  of  the  road, 
were  having  it  hot  and  thick  with  a  body  of  rebels  in  a 
strip  of  woods  about  three  hundred  yards  to  their  front, 
and  scores  of  wounded  were  streaming  from  their  line 
to  the  rear.  The  Rhode  Island  battery  was  thundering 
into  position  on  the  right  of  the  infantry  line. 

We  filed  into  the  field  upon  the  right  of  the  road,  fired 
a  few  scattering  shots  at  a  line  of  skirmishers  which 
opened  on  us,  and  then  threw  ourselves  upon  the  ground 
to  escape  the  fire  of  a  rebel  battery  upon  the  opposite 
slope  which  had  begun  to  pay  its  attention  to  us.  By 


BATTLE    OF   BULL    RUN.  21 

this  time  the  Rhode  Island  battery  was  in  position  and 
opened  fire.  Its  first  shot  was  directed  against  the  battery 
which  was  annoying  us,  and  with  splendid  accuracy. 
The  shell  struck  right  upon  the  little  work  behind  which 
the  gunners  were  protected,  and  the  demoralized  artillerists 
streamed  to  the  rear  like  ants  from  an  ant  hill,  but  they 
were  rallied  by  the  officers  and  led  back  to  their  work. 

They  soon  got  a  good  range  upon  us,  and  many  a  poor 
fellow  was  carried  gasping  and  bleeding  to  the  rear.  For 
half  an  hour  we  suffered  this  merciless  pelting,  when  the 
enemy  showed  themselves  in  great  numbers  in  front  of 
the  Rhode  Islanders,  evidently  intending  to  charge  the 
battery,  and  we  were  ordered  to  the  left  of  the  road  to 
assist  in  repelling  the  threatened  attack.  Col.  MAHSTON 
was  at  this  moment  consulting  with  Col.  BURNSIDE. 
"Attention!  left  face  —  double-quick  —  march!"  shouted 
Colonel  FISKE,  who,  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  and  with  per 
spiration  pouring  from  his  face,  had  been  striding  up  and 
down  the  line. 

As  we  rushed  past  the  battery  we  were  exposed  to  the 
concentrated  fire  of  the  entire  rebel  force  then  in  action, 
and  the  sounds  of  their  missiles,  running  through  the 
whole  scale  of  warlike  music,  from  the  savage  rush  of 
twelve  pound  shells  to  the  spiteful  "pish"  of  the  minie 
bullet,  was  ruinous  to  weak  nerves. 

We  reached  our  position  amidst  this  galling  fire,  and 
threw  ourselves  upon  the  ground  to  await  any  demon 
stration.  It  soon  came.  Along  the  edge  of  the  woods 
some  three  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  battery,  the 
rebels  appeared  in  strong  force.  The  two  howitzers  of  the 
Seventy  -  First  opened  with  grape  and  shrapnell,  while  we 
rose  from  the  ground  and  rushing  with  the  Seventy  -  First 


22  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

over  an  intervening  fence  and  through  a  cornfield,  engaged 
in  a  sharp  fight  with  the  rebels.  It  was  hot  work  for  a  short 
time.  They  were  under  cover  of  the  woods,  —  we  fully 
exposed  to  their  aim.  They  soon  fell  back,  but  not  until 
the  green  leaves  of  the  growing  corn  had  been  dyed  red 
with  Northern  blood  and  the  ground  strewn  with  corpses. 
Col.  MARSTON  was  wounded  at  this  point.  He  had  hardly 
given  the  word  "Attention!" — for  us  to  rise  from  the 
ground,  when  he  fell  with  a  rifle  ball  in  his  shoulder  and 
was  carried  to  the  rear. 

A  body  of  United  States  marines  now  took  an  ad 
vanced  position  upon  the  left  of  our  brigade,  looking, 
with  their  white  cross -belts  and  well  -  polished  brasses, 
much  like  a  company  of  playday  soldiers  at  a  country  - 
muster,  and  at  the  same  time  HEINTZELMAN'S  crack  Divi 
sion  arrived  upon  the  field.  It  was  a  gallant  sight  to  see 
them  as  they  rushed  on  to  the  fight  shouting  and  cheering 
like  madmen.  Regiment  after  regiment  poured  from  the 
woods,  rushed  by  the  position  we  had  held  so  long 
unaided,  and  halting  hardly  a  moment  to  form  in  line, 
pressed  down  through  the  little  valley  to  the  front  of  our 
position,  along  the  edge  of  the  woods  and  up  the  opposite 
slope.  Now  some  of  the  most  desperate  fighting  of  the 
day  took  place,  of  which  BURNSIDE'S  brigade  were  allowed 
to  be  spectators.  The  brigade  had  already  lost  heavily, 
but  was  still  well  formed,  in  good  spirits,  and  capable  of 
doing  much  hard  fighting.  We  saw  the  regiments  charge 
gallantly  into  the  woods,  we  heard  the  furious  roar  of 
musketry,  and  then  the  broken  lines  came  pouring  back 
into  the  fields  to  reform  and  go  at  the  work  again.  We 
heard  the  loud  shouts  of  victory  as  our  gallant  fellows 
pressed  the  rebels  back  from  their  positions,  and  we  had 


BATTLE    OF   BULL   RUN.  23 

a  good  view  of  the  celebrated  charge  of  the  Black  Horse 
cavalry.  All  these  exciting  scenes  we  witnessed,  until 
early  in  the  afternoon  the  firing  had  almost  died  away, 
the  field  was  ours,  and  General  McDowELL  rode  down  the 
line  and  told  us  we  had  won  a  great  victory,  at  which  we 
cheered  exultingly. 

The  field  was  ours,  but  the  army  was  left  in  a  sad 
condition.  It  had  been  so  badly  broken  up  and  scattered 
that  there  was  hardly  a  regiment  which  could  count  half 
its  members  in  the  ranks.  In  this  condition  was  our 
army,  while  JOHNSTON  was  close  at  hand  with  heavy 
reinforcements  for  the  rebels,  hastening  to  wrest  our 
hard-earned  victory  from  us,  and  our  reserves  were 
many  miles  away,  in  the  vicinity  of  Centreville.  To 
add  to  all,  at  about  this  time,  an  unexplainable,  un 
accountable  panic  took  possession  of  a  great  portion  of 
our  troops,  and  while  the  thoroughly  whipped  rebels  were 
making  post  -  haste  for  Manassas,  they  were  fleeing  with 
equal  speed  towards  Washington. 

Thus  stood  affairs  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
when  bodies  of  rebels  who  had  been  rallied  by  the  rapid 
approach  of  JOHNSTON,  again  renewed  the  fight. 

The  New  Hampshire  Second  was  then  one  of  the  few 
regiments  upon  the  field  which  was  formed  in  good  order, 
and  we  were  directed  to  the  front  into  the  positions  from 
which  other  regiments  were  falling  back  in  disorganized 
masses. 

Col.  MARSTON,  having  had  his  shattered  arm  bound  up, 
came  at  this  moment  upon  the  field  to  lead  his  regiment. 
At  every  step  of  his  horse  the  muscles  of  his  face  would 
involuntarily  show  the  pain  he  felt.  The  Spartan  spirit 
of  their  Colonel  seemed  to  infuse  itself  through  the  ranks 


24  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

of  the  men,  who  greeted  his  appearance  with  tumultuous 
cheers.  "Now,"  he  exclaimed,  "the  New  Hampshire 
Second  will  have  a  chance  to  show  what  it  is  made  of," 
and  we  filed  down  into  the  valley  at  a  quick  step,  where 
we  were  exposed  to  a  terrible  fire.  Grape,  shell  and  rifle 
balls  swept  through  the  ranks  of  the  Second,  but  the 
column  swept  on  down  the  road.  It  was  a  position 
which  might  well  appal  stout  hearts,  one  where  we  had 
a  taste  of  the  h&rrors  of  war.  The  rail  fence  by  the 
roadside  was  shattered  and  prostrated  by  the  terrible 
storm  of  balls  which  leaped  from  the  cauldron  of  flame 
that  crested  the  hill.  The  wounded  and  dead  marked  our 
progress  through  the  valley,  and  when  we  reached  the 
blood-stained  slope  our  ranks  were  fearfully  decimated. 
For  a  few  moments  we  halted  behind  a  sheltering  ridge 
to  form  the  ranks  anew.  Upon  our  left  was  stationed 
one  of  our  batteries,  with  only  one  gun  in  working  order. 
A  part  of  the  others  were  dismounted,  and  the  faithful 
gunners  and  horses  lay  around  the  useless  pieces.  The 
few  men  still  left  were  working  the  remaining  gun,  but 
for  every  shot  they  sent  screaming  over  the  hill  a  dozen 
were  returned;  and  soon  this  gun  also  ceased  its  defiance. 
The  gallant  BUEJSTSIDE  at  this  time  showed  his  bravery  in 
a  most  conspicuous  manner.  Riding  up  to  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  he  drew  forth  his  glass  and  through  it  took  a  long 
and  deliberate  survey  of  the  rebels,  as  coolly  as  though 
lie  was  only  gazing  upon  a  beautiful  landscape.  It  was 
almost  a  miracle  that  his  life  was  preserved  amidst  the 
shower  of  bullets  which  whistled  around  him. 

The  ranks  again  formed  we  continued  on  up  the  hill, 
where  a  few  men  —  the  dare-devils  of  various  regiments  — 
still  kept  up  a  desultory  fire.  One  of  the  Fire  Zouaves 


BATTLE    OF   BULL    HUN.  25 

was  particularly  noticeable  for  his  reckless  behavior. 
His  foot  had  been  crushed  by  a  ball,  but  instead  of  being 
carried  to  the  Surgeon  he  maintained  his  ground,  hobbling 
around  on  his  sound  foot,  firing  as  fast  as  he  could  load, 
and  keeping  up  all  the  time  such  a  string  of  oaths  as 
would  have  surprised  "The  Army  in  Flanders." 

The  regiment  came  into  position  facing  a  rebel  battery 
of  two  or  three  guns,  posted  by  the  ruins  of  some  log 
houses,  which  served  as  good  shelter  for  an  industrious 
body  of  rebels  —  so  industrious  with  their  leaden  com 
pliments  that  the  regiment  was  soon  ordered  to  fall  back 
from  the  position.  This  they  did,  with  the  exception  of 
the  two  left  companies  (I  and  B)  who  rushed  forward  to 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  battery,  where,  taking 
shelter  in  a  deep  cut  made  by  the  side  of  the  road,  they 
kept  up  a  brisk  and  spiteful  interchange  of  shots  with 
the  rebels. 

A  rebel  mounted  officer  attempted  to  pass  from  the 
battery  to  the  woods,  but  horse  and  rider  fell  lifeless  to 
the  ground.  Another  rebel  leaped  upon  a  gun  and  waved 
a  flag  defiantly  in  our  faces  ;  he,  too,  fell. 

For  half  an  hour  these  two  companies  maintained  this 
position,  losing  but  few  men,  which  was  owing  to  their 
good  cover,  when  a  body  of  rebels  filed  across  the  road  to 
their  right,  pouring  in  a  volley  which  unearthed  them, 
upon  which  they  made  some  very  rapid  traveling  down 
the  hill  and  up  the  opposite  slope,  in  search  of  the 
regiment. 

As  soon  as  they  were  fairly  out  of  reach  of  the  rebel 
riflemen  they  took  a  view  in  the  direction  from  which 
they  were  retreating.  A  sight  met  their  vision  calculated 
at  once  to  appal  and  to  demand  their  admiration.  The 


26  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

insignificant  force  which  had  started  them  from  their  cover 
had  in  those  few  moments  grown  into  a  host. 

Instead  of  a  small  squad  there  now  appeared  a  long  line, 
bristling  with  steel,  and  with  numberless  banners  floating 
above  it  in  the  summer  air.  The  line  continued  to 
lengthen,  as  regiment  after  regiment  debouched  from  the 
woods,  until  their  hearts  grew  sick  in  calculating  the 
numbers.  Then  a  second  line  appeared,  forming  with  the 
same  threatening  precision  and  silence  as  had  the  first. 
Halting  but  a  moment  the  serried  lines  faced  to  the  front, 
and  came  sweeping  down  the  slope  towards  the  dis 
organized  masses  of  Union  troops.  These  new  arrivals 
were  JOHNSTON'S  reserves,  and  from  this  moment  the  day 
was  irretrievably  lost  to  us.  The  field  where  BTJRNSIDE 
had  opened  the  fight  was  still  covered  with  squads  of 
troops  hunting  for  their  respective  regiments,  but  before 
the  threatening  approach  of  JOHNSTON'S  gleaming  lines  they 
melted  rapidly  away,  and  helped  to  swell  the  great  wave 
of  disastrous  retreat  which  was  sweeping  so  resistlessly 
towards  Washington. 

Our  regiment  was  forming  in  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
near  the  point  where  we  had  first  entered  the  field.  Here 
we  remained  until  JOHNSTON  was  close  upon  us,  and  two 
companies  of  cavalry,  which  had  formed  in  line  a  short 
distance  to  the  left,  broke  for  the  woods,  when  we,  too, 
joined  in  that  terrible  retreat  from  Bull  Run. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


THE   RETREAT   FROM   BULL   RUN 


EN  or  tongue  cannot 
describe  the  retreat 
from  Bull  Run. 
Never  was  an  army 
more  completely  bro 
ken  up  and  demor 
alized  than  was  ours ;  never  were  the  real  dangers  of 
any  situation  more  intensely  magnified  than  were  those 
which  threatened  us ;  and  never  did  men  conjure  up  more 
visions  of  danger  which  existed  only  in  their  own  minds 
than  did  we.  In  that  wild  torrent  of  retreat,  organiza 
tion  could  not  for  a  moment  exist.  Although  the  Second 
Regiment  marched  from  the  field  in  good  order,  it  was 
not  long  ere  it  would  have  been  difficult  to  have  found 
a  score  of  its  members  together. 

About  a  mile  from  the  field  BURNSIDE  made  an  attempt 
to  rally  our  brigade.  By  vigorous  efforts  a  few  hundred 
men  were  got  together,  forming  a  line  with  no  reference 
to  previous  regimental  or  company  formation ;  but  this 
provisional  organization  could  not  stem  the  torrent,  and 
it  soon  melted  away. 


28  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

• 

The  wounded  men  by  the  roadside  begged  piteouslyfor 
aid  to  escape  from  the  rebels.  A  few  were  placed  in 
empty  wagons  and  ambulances,  or  upon  caissons  and  gun 
carriages,  but  the  most  of  them  were  left  to  their  fate  by 
their  terror-stricken  comrades. 

"The  cavalry  are  coming,"  was  the  cry  which  would 
revive  the  energies  of  the  drooping.  "The  Black  Horse 
Cavalry,"  numbering,  perhaps,  a  hundred  men,  was  the 
bugbear  of  the  flight.  To  tell  the  truth,  the  writer  of 
this  did  not  see  a  rebel  during  the  entire  retreat,  and  is 
inclined  to  set  down  at  least  nine -tenths  of  the  hair 
breadth  escapes,  terrible  hand-to-hand  encounters  and 
heroic  defences  by  dashing  vivandicrs,  with  which  the 
Northern  papers  teemed  for  weeks,  as  being  made  up  and 
cut  out  for  the  occasion.  A  history  of  the  retreat  can 
never  be  written,  only  as  compiled  from  individual  expe 
rience,  so  complete  the  disorganization  in  the  ranks  of 
the  Union  Army.  The  writer  speaks  only  for  himself: 
premising  that  his  own  experience  tallies  with  that  of 
thousands  of  his  comrades  on  that  memorable  day. 

During  the  entire  day  we  had  suffered  most  intensely 
from  thirst,  with  scarcely  a  drop  of  water  to  alleviate  it. 
So  when  I  came,  to  a  pool  of  stagnant  water  a  few  rods 
from  the  point  where  we  entered  the  main  road  to  Cen- 
treville,  I  did  not  scruple  to  drain  two  dipperfulls  of  the 
filthy  fluid,  or  rather  semi-fluid,  for  the  passage  of  horses 
and  wagons  through  it  had  reduced  it  to  this  state. 

I  had  fastened  my  dipper  to  my  haversack,  and  was 
about  to  enter  the  main  road,  when  the  roar  of  a  gun  and 
the  howling  of  a  shell  just  overhead  greeted  my  ears. 
The  crowd  paused,  bewildered.  The  next  instant,  a 
shower  of  grape  came  humming  into  their  midst,  when 


RETREAT   FROM   BULL   RUN.  29 

they  made  a  simultaneous  rush  from  the  road,  over  fences 
and  into  the  woods  and  fields.  "  Halt !  boys,  halt ! — don't 
run ! — a  hundred  men  can  take  the  battery ! "  shouted  Lt. 
JAMES  H.  PLATT,  who  was  close  by  at  the  time.  But 
exhortations  had  no  effect,  and  we  took  to  the  fields  with 
the  rest. 

The  battery  which  had  created  this  new  panic  con 
sisted,  apparently,  of  but  two  pieces,  which  had  been  sent 
along  the  main  road  to  take  a  position  where  they  could 
command  the  point  at  which  we  must  enter  it,  as  well  as 
the  Cub  Run  bridge,  which  crossed  the  creek  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill.  Owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  evening  which 
by  this  time  prevailed,  neither  the  guns  nor  the  gunners 
were  visible  to  the  panic  -  stricken  fugitives,  and  when 
they  opened,  notwithstanding  their  proximity,  they  did 
not  stop  to  question  whether  there  were  twenty  or  five 
hundred  men  engaged  in  the  new  attack,  such  terrors 
have  unseen  dangers  for  all  men. 

After  firing  a  few  shots  the  battery  ceased  its  play,  and 
the  men  began  to  swarm  back  into  the  road.  I  reached 
Cub  Run  bridge  and  found  it  blocked  with  disabled 
baggage  wagons.  While  I  stood  debating  as  to  the  best 
means  of  crossing,  BURNSIDE  came  riding  down  the  hill, 
leaped  his  horse  from  the  steep  bank  and  forded  the 
creek.  I  was  not  particular  about  following  in  the  steps 
of  illustrious  greatness,  especially  when  they  led  through 
five  feet  of  water,  so  I  took  the  less  dignified  means  of 
attaining  the  same  end,  and  crawled  under  the  wagons. 
I  had  just  straightened  myself  after  crossing  the  bridge, 
when  the  battery  again  opened.  The  first  shot  whistled 
past  the  wagons  and  went  bowling  down  the  road,  tearing 
the  life  from  many  a  poor  fellow  who  was  perhaps  at  that 


30  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

moment  congratulating  himself  on  having  at  last  safely 
escaped  the  horrors  of  the  day.  Again  there  was  a  grand 
exodus  from  the  road,  which  was  entirely  abandoned  until 
the  battery  had  once  more  ceased  working. 

Formed  in  line  of  battle  across  the  road  near  Cen- 
treville,  we  found  our  reserves,  and  as  we  passed  through 
the  openings  in  their  ranks  we  felt  that  at  last  we  might 
rest  ourselves  in  safety. 

Arriving  at  the  camp  which  we  had  left  so  gaily  the 
morning  before,  we  threw  ourselves  upon  the  ground 
with  an  inexpressible  feeling  of  relief.  Men  came 
straggling  in  every  few  minutes.  Among  them  was  one 
man  from  company  A,  whose  arm  had  been  shattered  in 
the  affair  at  Cub  Run.  Amputation  was  necessary,  and 
it  was  performed  by  the  nickering  light  of  a  camp  -  fire, 
the  heroic  soldier  uttering  hardly  a  moan  during  the 
terrible  operation. 

But  our  rest  here  was  a  short  one.  About  midnight, 
we  were  unceremoniously  routed  out,  and  told  that  the 
implacable  enemy  was  close  at  hand.  Again  we  took  our 
position  in  the  "  grand  army  advancing  up  on  Washington," 
and  to  the  credit  of  our  pedestrian  powers  be  it  said,  we 
continued  on  until  the  goal  was  reached,  although  our  feet 
were  blistered  and  bleeding,  and  every  individual  bone 
and  muscle  of  our  bodies  ached  from  fatigue. 

Once  more  under  cover  of  the  forts  on  Arlington 
Heights,  we  drew  a  long  breath  of  relief,  although  some 
of  the  most  thoroughly  terror  -  stricken  still  half  expected 
to  see  the  ubiquitous  Black  Horse  Cavalry  come  riding 
over  the  frowning  walls  of  the  fortifications,  overturning 
the  big  guns  in  their  fury  and  scattering  death  and 
destruction  in  every  direction. 


RETREAT    FROM    BULL    RUN.  31 

Arriving  in  Washington,  most  of  the  men,  to  escape 
the  pressing  inquiries  for  particulars  of  the  fight  that 
met  them  on  every  hand,  secured  conveyance  to  Camp 
Sullivan.  The  sick  men  whom  we  had  left  in  camp,  we 
found  had  organized  themselves  into  a  volunteer  cook 
corps,  to  distribute  rations  to  the  men  as  fast  as  they 
arrived.  But  sleep  and  rest  were  the  great  demand,  and 
these  wants  were  first  and  thoroughly  attended  to. 

For  several  days  the  men  came  straggling  into  camp, 
and  it  was  some  time  before  any  definite  estimate  of  our 
loss  could  be  formed.  From  nearly  two  hundred  it  grad 
ually  dwindled  down  until  it  was  fixed  at  seven  killed, 
fifty -six  wounded  and  forty -six  prisoners.  Many  of 
those  reported  wounded  could  have  lived  but  a  few  hours, 
while  one  or  two  reported  killed  came  back  to  us  as  from 
the  grave,  with  thirteen  months'  experience  in  rebel 
prisons  to  tell  to  their  wondering  comrades. 


CHAPTER     V. 


BL  ADEN  S  BIT  KG       AND       B  TJ  D  D     S       FERRY. 


ARLY  in  the  month  of  August  we 
moved  our  camp  to  Bladensburg,  a 
little  Maryland  village,  about  four  and 
a  half  miles  from  Washington,  on  the 
Baltimore  road,  noted  in  former  days 
as  a  place  of  resort  for  southern  fash 
ionables,  for  the  battle  -there  fought 
in  1814,  and  for  the  famous  duelling 
ground  where  so  many  brave  men  laid 
down  their  lives  at  the  shrine  of  a  false 
sense  of  honor. 
As  we  filed  into  the  field  which  had  been  designated  as 
our  camping  ground,  a  tall,  plainly  dressed,  military  - 
looking  man  rode  up  and  superintended  the  movements  of 
the  regiment.  This  was  Brigadier  Gen.  JOSEPH  HOOKER, 
who  had  just  been  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade, 
of  which  we  were  the  first  regiment  to  arrive  at  the  ren 
dezvous,  and  consequently  the  first  regiment  which 
"Fighting  Joe"  commanded  during  the  war.  When  or 
ganized,  the  brigade  consisted  of  the  First  and  Eleventh 


BLADENSBURG   AND    BUDD'S    FERRY.  33 

Massachusetts,  the  Twenty-Sixth  Pennsylvania  and  Second 
New  Hampshire  regiments.  Gallant  regiments  they  were, 
too,  as  the  glowing  record  of  the  "First  Brigade  of 
HOOKER'S  Division,"  carved  on  many  a  bloody  field,  will 
testify. 

At  Bladensburg  we  remained  about  two  months,  drilling 
and  preparing  ourselves  for  the  next  trial  of  arms,  which 
we  felt  confident  would  end,  under  our  new  General, 
MCCLELLAN,  as  victoriously  as  the  former  campaign  had 
closed  disastrously. 

About  the  middle  of  October  we  were  ordered  to  the 
lower  Potomac,  where  the  rebels  had  established  a  block 
ade  of  the  river,  the  effects  of  which  were  sensibly  felt  at 
Washington,  as  it  necessitated  the  carriage  by  rail  of 
nearly  all  the  supplies  for  the  great  army  which  was  then 
gathering  around  the  capital. 

SICKLES'  Excelsior  Brigade,  with  ours,  were  organized 
into  a  Division,  and  HOOKER  placed  in  command.  After 
a  weary  march  of  four  days  over  the  roughest  of  roads, 
we  arrived  at  Budd's  Ferry,  when  the  various  regiments 
were  distributed  so  as  to  form  a  corps  of  observation 
over  the  movements  of  the  rebel  blockaders. 

For  some  weeks  the  Second  was  stationed  at  the 
important  village  of  Hill  Top,  consisting  of  one  dwelling- 
house,  one  store,  and  two  negro  cabins.  Here  we  were 
several  miles  from  the  rest  of  the  Division  and  from  the 
rebel  batteries,  and  as  we  could  hear  the  roar  of  their 
guns  every  day  shelling  some  audacious  little  Yankee 
blockade  -  running  sloop  or  schooner,  we  grew  impatient 
to  be  nearer  the  scene  of  action.  So  when  ordered  to 
join  the  rest  of  the  Division,  we  obeyed  with  pleasure, 
arriving  just  in  season  to  witness  an  exciting  little 
2 


34  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

episode.  One  of  our  schooners  had  been  driven  aground 
by  the  rebel  batteries  on  Shipping  Point,  which  was  no 
sooner  observed  than  a  boat  full  of  rebel  soldiers  put  off 
from  the  shore  and  pulled  rapidly  toward  the  vessel, 
with  the  intention  of  boarding  and  firing  her  under  our 
very  eyes.  A  company  of  the  First  Massachusetts 
dashed  across  the  fields  to  meet  the  attack.  The  rebels 
reached  the  schooner,  boarded  and  fired  her,  then  taking 
to  their  boat  again  pulled  vigorously  for  their  side  of  the 
river.  At  this  moment  the  Massachusetts  boys  arrived 
on  the  river  bank,  and  poured  in  a  volley  which  sent  the 
splinters  flying  in  every  direction  and  created  considerable 
confusion  among  the  daring  rebels.  The  First  boys 
boarded  the  boat  in  season  to  extinguish  the  fire,  and  so 
thwarted  an  attempt  which  reflected  much  credit  upon 
the  bravery  of  the  rebels  engaged. 

During  the  months  that  now  ensued  we  found  plenty 
to  occupy  our  time  and  attention.  When  the  condition 
of  the  ground  admitted  we  had  a  large  amount  of  drilling 
to  do,  and  the  broad  fields  of  "  Old  POSEY"  and  WHEELER 
were  the  scene  of  many  a  gallant  charge,  while  the 
woods  were  thoroughly  scoured  by  heavy  lines  of  skir 
mishers.  Then  we  had  to  build  a  corduroy  road  from 
Hum  Point,  (our  landing  and  base  of  supplies),  as  the 
winter  rains  soon  rendered  the  ordinary  roads  utterly 
impassable.  Winter  quarters  also  demanded  our  atten 
tion,  as  the  advance  of  the  season  rendered  it  improbable 
that  an  immediate  movement  would  take  place  by  the 
Division,  and  we  accordingly  built  log  walls,  upon  which 
to  raise  our  tents  from  the  ground,  and  thus  secured 
more  roomy  and  comfortable  quarters.  Each  tent  was 
supplied  with  bunks  for  its  occupants,  and  also  had  a 


BLADENSBURG   AND    BUDD'S    FERRY.  35 

fire  place,  built  of  logs  and  coated  with  mud.  The  great 
disadvantages  of  the  latter  were  that  they  would  catch 
fire  occasionally,  forming  an  illumination  on  a  small  scale, 
and  that  when  there  was,  from  any  reason,  a  particular 
scarcity  of  firewood,  the  boys  would  not  scruple  to 
improve  the  midnight  hours  by  stealing  two  or  three  feet 
off  the  top  of  their  neighbors'  chimneys  with  which  to 
keep  the  fire  going  in  their  own. 

For  amusement  we  watched  the  running  of  the  rebel 
blockade,  which  could  be  performed  only  by  the  small 
vessels,  as  the  channel  of  the  river  ran  close  under  the 
rebel  batteries.  But  hundreds  of  schooners  with  draft 
light  enough  to  keep  close  to  the  Maryland  shore,  defiantly 
ran  the  whole  line  of  batteries  in  broad  daylight,  and 
though  the  rebel  gunners  managed  occasionally  to  hit  one 
of  the  saucy  little  craft,  none  were  sunk  or  disabled. 

Soon  after  our  arrival  we  were  reinforced  by  the  Second 
New  Jersey  brigade  under  General  PATTERSON,  forming  the 
Third  Brigade  of  HOOKER'S  Division.  It  soon  became  as 
notorious  for  its  strict  discipline  and  inveterate  drumming 
as  it  afterwards  did  for  gallant  fighting  on  a  score  of 
fiercely  contested  fields.  It  was  a  standing  joke  in  the 
Division  that  the  commander  of  the  rebel  forces  opposite 
us  sent  word  to  Gen.  HOOKER  that  unless  he  immediately 
put  a  veto  upon  the  drumming  of  those  Jersey  regiments 
he  would  have  to  evacuate  his  position,  as  his  men  could 
not  be  broken  of  their  rest  much  longer. 

About  the  middle  of  February,  Gen.  NEAGLEE  of 
Pennsylvania  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  our 
Brigade,  who  at  the  very  outset  incurred  the  dislike  of 
both  officers  and  men.  The  day  after  he  assumed  com 
mand  he  had  the  officer  of  the  day,  and  the  officers  of  the 


36  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

guard  of  every  regiment  in  the  Brigade,  placed  under 
arrest  for  some  very  slight  deviation  from  the  strict  letter 
of  the  army  regulations,  and  his  after  conduct  was  such 
as  to  gain  for  him  the  reputation  of  a  merciless  tyrant, 
albeit  he  was  thoroughly  conversant  with  military  tactics, 
and  one  of  the  best  drilled  officers  ever  commanding  our 
brigade.  Among  other  things  he  inspected  the  guard 
house  of  our  regiment,  where  the  prisoners  were  confined, 
and  immediately  deciding  that  it  was  too  comfortable  a 
place  for  prisoners,  he  gave  Col.  MARSTON  orders  to  have 
a  dungeon  built  of  logs.  "  Build  it,"  ho  said,  "without 
a  crack  or  an  opening  so  that  it  may  be  perfectly  dark." 
His  orders  were  obeyed  to  the  letter.  In  a  day  or  two 
he  came  over  to  see  if  the  house  had  been  properly 
built,  and  his  eyes  beamed  with  pleasure  when  they 
first  rested  upon  the  gloomy  structure,  but  after  having 
looked  upon  all  sides  of  it,  he  turned  to  Col.  MARSTON 
with  a  haughty  air,  and  enquired  where  the  entrance  was, 
and  how  he  intended  to  get  anybody  into  it.  "  O,"  re 
plied  the  Colonel  complacently,  "that's  not  my  lookout; 
I  have  obeyed  your  orders  strictly  !  How  does  it  suit 
you?"  The  General  went  his  way,  and  the  dungeon 
stood  just  as  it  had  been  built  until  the  regiment  left 
Budd's  Ferry  for  the  Peninsula,  the  following  spring. 

During  the  winter  months  we  remained  at  Budd's 
Ferry,  surrounded  by  oceans  of  mud,  and,  as  a  poet  of 
the  regiment  had  it, 

"  Laboring  like  patient  oxen, 
By  the  banks  of  Chickamoxen/' 

But  when  the  spring  months  came  and  the  warm  winds 
drank  up  the  water  from  the  soil  so  that  solid  ground 
began  to  appear,  the  great  army  which  for  so  many 


BLADEXSBURG    AND    BUDD'S    FERRY.  37 

months  had  been  marshaling  under  the  leadership  of 
MCCLELLAN,  began  its  advance  upon  Richmond  by  way  of 
the  Peninsula.  This  movement  necessitated  a  corres 
ponding  change  of  base  by  the  rebel  army,  and  the 
abandonment  of  the  line  of  defences  they  had  occupied 
during  the  winter,  comprising  the  fortified  positions  at 
Manassas  and  Oentreville,  and  the  batteries  with  which 
we  had  been  hobnobbing. 

On  Sunday,  the  ninth  day  of  March,  the  boys  in  camp 
were  turned  out  by  the  announcement  that  the  entire  line 
of  batteries  had  been  abandoned,  and  the  little  hill  which 
commanded  a  view  of  them  was  soon  covered  with  spec 
tators.  For  a  distance  of  five  miles  the  Virginia  shore 
was  enveloped  in  the  thick  smoke  which  ascended  in 
volumes  from  the  camps  of  the  enemy,  from  various 
buildings,  from  their  gunboat,  the  "George  Page,"  and 
from  several  schooners  which  lay  in  Quantico  Creek.  It 
was  the  most  extensive  conflagration  we  ever  witnessed, 
and  one  of  the  grandest  scenes.  The  little  black  "  Ana- 
costa,''  of  the  Upper  Flotilla,  was  cautiously  steaming 
down  the  river,  throwing  shells  into  the  upper  battery  to 
make  sure  it  was  not  tenanted.  Arriving  opposite  the 
bluff  upon  which  it  was  situated,  a  barge  was  sent  ashore 
and  soon  we  saw  the  Stars  and  Stripes  floating  proudly 
from  the  same  staff  recently  occupied  by  the  rebel  flag, 
while  the  soldiers  assembled  on  the  Maryland  shore  sent 
up  shout  after  shout  at  the  glorious  scene.  All  the  bat 
teries  were  found  deserted.  They  were  thoroughly 
explored  the  next  day  by  detachments  from  our  Division, 
and  it  was  found  that  an  immense  number  of  large  guns 
and  a  great  amount  of  military  stores  had  been  left.  The 


38  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

batteries  were  constructed  in  the  most  scientific  manner, 
and  would  have  proved  very  formidable  if  attacked  by 
our  gunboats.  Many  of  the  guns  had  been  tumbled' into 
the  river,  but  some  had  not  even  been  spiked.  A  great 
amount  of  sutlers'  stores  and  private  property  of  the 
soldiers  was  left  behind,  and  secesh  dippers,  plates,  knives, 
clothing,  knapsacks,  puppies  and  other  plunder,  was 
plenty  in  our  camps,  nearly  every  soldier  having  some 
thing  as  a  memento.  Several  heavy  guns  were  found 
buried  in  the  ground.  One  of  them,  a  ten  -  inch  gun, 
was  buried  about  a  mile  from  the  river,  and  efforts  were 
made  to  recover  it,  in  doing  which,  one  of  our  men,  of 
Company  E,  named  FASCETT,  was  murdered  by  guerillas. 
He,  with  a  companion,  was  going  back  from  where  the 
men  were  engaged  in  digging,  to  procure  some  shovels 
which  were  stored  in  a  building  not  far  from  the  river, 
when  three  rebels  in  citizens'  dress,  who  had  been  skulk 
ing  in  the  bushes,  confronted  them  with  loaded  carbines, 
FASCETT  immediately  surrendered,  but  notwithstanding 
this,  they  sent  a  bullet  through  his  body,  while  his  com 
rade  made  good  his  escape.  The  guerillas  eluded  all 
efforts  to  capture  them.  Had  they  not,  Judge  Lynch 
would  have  presided  at  their  trial. 

On  the  fifth  of  April  the  Division  broke  camp  and 
embarked  upon  steamers  with  orders  to  report  at  Fortress 
Monroe.  The  Second,  with  three  companies  of  the 
Twenty  -  sixth  Pennsylvania,  was  crowded  upon  the  crazy 
old  steamer  "  South  America."  Owing  to  some  misman* 
agement  the  boats  carrying  our  brigade  did  not  get  under 
way  down  the  river  until  the  morning  of  the  seventh. 
Arriving  at  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac,  Chesapeake  Ba.y 


BLADENSBURG   AND    BUDD'S    FERRY.  39 

was  found  to  be  so  rough  that  the  captain  of  the  South 
America  would  not  venture  out  of  the  river  with  her,  and 
he  accordingly  ran  in  shore  and  landed  his  passengers 
upon  "  Point  Lookout,"  afterwards  noted  as  the  great 
general  depot  for  prisoners. 

We  found  good  quarters  here  in  the  little  tenements 
which  had  been  erected  a  few  years  previous  for  the 
accommodation  of  those  who  might  wish  to  patronize  a 
Southern  watering-place,  and  by  a  free  use  for  firewood 
of  the  rail  fence  which  surrounded  the  light -keeper's 
little  garden,  we  managed  to  keep  ourselves  quite  com 
fortable.  Most  of  us  were  by  this  time  entirely  out  of 
rations,  and  we  learned  to  bear  hunger  patiently  before 
more  came.  A  raid  was  made  upon  a  few  hundred  pounds 
of  bacon  which  were  discovered  in  the  vicinity,  but  that 
was  hardly  a  morsel  in  the  mouths  of  our  famishing  horde. 
Crumbs  of  crackers  were  carefully  gleaned  from  the  bot 
toms  of  our  haversacks,  and  tea  and  coffee  grounds  were 
boiled  over  and  over  again.  For  three  days  we  subsisted 
thus  before  a  boat  arrived  from  Washington  with  provi 
sions,  when  we  again  embarked,  glad  enough  to  leave  the 
inhospitable  shores  of  "  Point  Starvation,"  as  it  had  been 
well  named. 

We  arrived  at  Fortress  Monroe,  where  we  were  ordered 
to  proceed  to  Yorktown,  which  place  General  MCCLELLAN 
had  just  commenced  to  besiege.  While  we  were  coaling 
up  at  the  wharf,  the  rebel  iron  -  clad  monster,  the  Merri- 
mack,  steamed  down  out  of  the  Elizabeth  river  in  the  di 
rection  of  the  Fortress,  accompanied  by  two  consorts,  the 
Yorktown  and  the  Jamestown.  All  was  excitement  in 
Hampton  Roads,  and  it  was  but  a  short  time  before  they 
were  entirely  clear  of  vessels,  with  the  exception  of  the 


40  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

"Monitor"  and  our  little  fleet  of  war  steamers,  which 
patiently  awaited  the  threatened  attack.  But  after  taking 
a  good  survey  of  our  preparations  the  ungainly  monster 
crept  back  to  its  den,  not  caring  to  try  its  hand  again  with 
the  ugly  little  "  cheese  -box  on  a  raft." 


CHAPTER     VI. 


THE      SIEGE      OF      YORKTOWN. 

)^o  ATE  on  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  of  April 
the  crazy  old  "South  America"  wound 
her  way  up  Cheeseman's  Creek,  through 
the  fleet  of  transports  which  crowded  its 
sluggish  waters,  and  landed  us  upon 
the  soil  of  the  Peninsula.  Everything 
about  indicated  the  most  stupendous  pre 
parations  for  prosecuting  the  siege  of  the 
rebel  stronghold.  The  shores  of  the 
creek  were  lined  with  vessels  discharging 
their  cargoes  of  war  materials.  Heavy 
siege  guns,  huge  mortars,  shells  and  ammunition,  and 
great  piles  of  commissary  stores  greeted  the  eye  in  every 
direction.  Thousands  of  soldiers  were  camped  about, 
waiting  for  orders  to  proceed  to  the  front,  the  direction 
of  which  was  indicated  by  the  occasional  roar  of  a  heavy 
gun,  and  the  sudden  appearance  of  a  little  cloud  of  smoke 
where  the  shell  had  burst  in  mid  air.  We  were  soon  in 
camp  with  the  rest  of  our  brigade,  which  had  arrived 
some  time  before,  and  it  was  not  long  before  we  had 
gleaned  all  the  items  we  needed  to  form  our  judgment  of 
2* 


42  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

the  situation,  of  what  had  been  done  and  what  was  to  be 
done. 

We  remained  in  camp  by  Cheeseman's  Creek  but  a  few 
days,  when  we  marched  to  the  front  to  take  our  part  in 
the  siege,  which  was  then  vigorously  progressing.  On 
the  road  we  were  constantly  meeting  with  new  evidences 
of  the  immense  preparations  going  forward.  Parks  of 
the  heaviest  artillery  crowded  the  fields,  and  in  the  woods 
squads  from  the  engineer  corps  were  busily  engaged  in 
manufacturing  fascines  and  gabions  for  the  batteries. 

Our  division  was  attached  to  the  corps  of  General 
HEIJSTTZELMAN,  which  occupied  the  extreme  right  of  the 
position,  directly  in  front  of  the  town  of  Yorktown.  Our 
camp  was  by  the  side  of  the  Williamsburg  road,  upon 
the  farm  of  the  rebel  General  MAGRUDER.  It  was  nearly 
a  mile  from  the  enemy's  works,  and  concealed  from  his 
sight  by  intervening  woods.  Upon  the  opposite  side  of 
the  road,  and  in  full  view  of  the  enemy,  were  the  head 
quarters  of  HEINTZELMAX  and  HOOKER,  and  also  a  steam 
saw -mill,  which  was  of  great  service  to  us.  The  rebels, 
when  they  abandoned  it,  tried  to  blow  up  the  boiler,  but 
were  unsuccessful,  and  during  the  siege  its  merry  hum 
was  heard  night  and  day,  sawing  out  plank  and  lumber  to 
be  used  in  the  construction  of  batteries.  Just  across  the 
road  from  HEINTZELMAN'S  headquarters  was  the  balloon 
apparatus  of  Prof.  LOWE.  Ascensions  were  made  almost 
every  clay,  which  were  by  no  means  safe  operations  for  the 
man  of  science,  as  the  appearance  above  the  tree  tops  of 
his  serial  monster  was  almost  invariably  the  signal  for  a 
well-directed  fire  from  the  rebel  guns.  On  such  occa 
sions  the  pieces  of  shell  were  distributed  about  our  camp 
with  no  regard  to  the  safety  of  life  or  property.  Yet, 


THE    SIEGE    OF   YORKTOWN.  43 

strange  to  say,  not  a  man  of  our  regiment  was  ever  in 
jured  during  these  affairs,  and  the  greatest  damage  we 
ever  saw  inflicted  was  the  destruction  of  a  haversack  full 
of  "hard -tack."  The  owner  was  sleeping  composedly 
in  his  tent,  using  the  aforesaid  haversack  as'  a  pillow, 
when  a  piece  of  shell  struck  it  and  scattered  the  contents 
in  every  direction.  Out  rushed  the  man  whose  slumbers 
had  been  so  rudely  disturbed,  bristling  with  rage  and 
anxious  for  a  fight  with  the  scoundrel  who  had  kicked  his 
haversack  out  from  under  his  head.  The  intruder  lay  on 
the  ground  close  by,  but  the  soldier's  belligerence  cooled 
down  when  he  saw  what  it  was. 

It  was  not  long  before  we  became  aware  that  although 
holding  an  honorable  and  responsible  position,  it  was  by 
no  means  an  easy  one.  An  immense  amount  of  work 
was  to  be  done  and  we  were  to  do  our  share.  Batteries 
were  to  be  erected,  strong  enough  to  withstand  the  shots 
from  the  heavy  guns  on  the  walls  of  Yorktown.  Parallels 
for  the  protection  of  the  infantry  must  be  constructed, 
and  miles  an:l  miles  of  road  over  which  to  transport  the 
guns  and  ammunition  to  the  batteries. 

Much  of  the  work  in  the  trenches  had  to  be  performed 
in  the  night,  to  escape  the  vigilant  eyes  of  the  rebel  sen 
tinels.  Perhaps  a  parallel  would  have  to  be  run  out 
toward  the  enemy's  works.  Then  the  engineers  would 
mark  out  its  course,  and  the  men  in  grim  silence  would 
take  their  positions,  and  go  diligently  to  work  with  shovels, 
picks  and  axes.  When  morning  dawned  the  rebels  would 
discover  the  new  work,  tantalizingly  near,  but  behind 
which  the  delving  Yankees  could  laugh  defiantly  at  their 
hundred  -  pounders. 

On  such  occasions  the  rebels  could  hear  the  sounds  of 


44  SECOND    N.   II.  REGIMENT. 

our  picks  and  shovels,  but  as  they  could  not  by  sound 
alone  judge  of  our  position  the  shots  they  fired  were,  of 
course,  at  random.  Yet  these  random  shots  sometimes 
came  nearer  our  persons  than  was  desirable,  and  many 
narrow  escapes  were  had.  One  night  the  Second  Regi 
ment  was  in  the  trenches  as  support  for  a  battery  manned 
by  Hungarians.  The  rebels  had  a  very  good  idea  of  its 
position,  although  it  was  screened  by  woods,  and  sent 
many  shells  over  and  even  into  it.  One  of  these,  a  thirty  - 
two  -  pounder,  struck  upon  one  of  the  curtains  of  the 
battery,  bounded  upon  the  magazine,  and  rolled  under  a 
platform  upon  which  five  of  the  men  \vere  sleeping. 
Fortunately  it  did  not  explode,  else  the  dreams  of  "  Father  - 
land  "  would  have  been  over  forever. 

The  following  morning,  Company  H,  of  the  First 
Massachusetts,  performed  one  of  the  most  dashing  exploits 
of  the  siege.  The  rebels  were  in  the  habit  of  annoying  our 
working  parties  from  a  small  lunette  work  a  short  distance 
in  advance  of  their  main  line.  Becoming  something  of  a 
nuisance,  HOOKER  determined  to  abate  it.  In  the  gray 
light  of  approaching  dawn  the  brave  Bay  State  boys 
were  drawn  up  behind  the  entrenchments,  supported  by 
two  companies  armed  with  shovels.  At  the  word,  they 
dashed  forward  toward  the  rebel  work.  Its  occupants 
were  on  the  alert  and  poured  in  a  volley  which  killed  three 
and  wounded  about  twenty.  But  the  First  boys  were  not 
to  be  turned  back,  —  on  they  rushed,  nearer,  nearer,  and 
over  the  battery  with  a  yell.  The  rebels  fled  in  dismay, 
and  the  company  with  shovels  soon  levelled  the  M-ork  to 
the  ground. 

At  first,  when  our  men  were  subjected  to  the  rebel  fire, 
they  were  very  careful  to  keep  low  under  the  protection  of 


THE    SIEGE    OF    YORKTOWN.  45 

their  works.  No  sooner  would  a  gun  flash  from  the  en 
emy's  lines  than  every  head  would  be  drawn  under  cover 
until  the  rebel  missile  had  passed.  But  familiarity  bred 
contempt  in  this  case  as  well  as  others,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  it  had  to  be  a  furious  shelling  indeed  which 
could  destroy  the  equanimity  of  the  boys  enough  to  drive 
them  to  shelter.  Sometimes  a  sociable  game  of  cards 
would  be  going  on  at  the  very  point  to  which  the  rebels 
were  directing  their  fire.  These  games  were  often  broken 
up  in  a  summary  manner,  as  was  the  case  with  one  in 
which  the  writer  had  the  honor  to  hold  a  hand.  Four  of 
us  were  seated  upon  the  grass  to  the  rear  of  the  pit,  deep 
in  the  mysteries  of  trumps  and  suits,  when  a  huge  shell 
just  brushed  the  top  of  our  rifle-pit  and  with  a  stunning 
explosion  burst  directly  overhead,  showering  the  unburnt 
powder  upon  us  without  stint.  It  took  but  a  moment  to 
recover  from  the  shock,  when  the  four  euchre  players  made 
a  simultaneous  plunge  into  the  friendly  pit,  more  regard 
being  paid  to  celerity  of  movement  than  to  elegance. 

The  miles  of  road  we  built  were  by  no  means  the  least 
of  the  labor  performed.  Sometimes  they  led  across 
marshes,  which  would  swallow  up  thousands  of  feet  of 
lumber  before  a  foundation  could  be  established,  all  of 
which  had  to  be  cut  and  carried  to  the  spot  by  hand. 
Miles  of  it  were  built  along  the  sides  of  the  creek,  where 
the  banks  often  rose  so  abruptly  that  in  digging  down  to 
form  a  foundation,  a  declivity  would  be  formed  forty  or 
fifty  feet  high. 

Night  and  day  the  men  labored  on  these  works,  seeming 
hardly  to  require  any  rest,  so  intense  was  the  enthusiasm 
which  then  pervaded  the  ranks.  For  a  short  time  after 
our  arrival  at  the  front,  the  few  hours  of  rest  which  were 


46  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT, 

granted  us  were  wofully  intruded  upon  by  our  brigade 
commander,  General  NEAGLEE,  who  had  many  qualities 
which  tend  to  make  a  good  officer,  but  was  a 
martinet  in  the  worst  sense  of  the  word — unmerciful  in 
his  drills,  and  in  the  management  of  his  men.  Every 
morning,  long  before  sunrise,  he  had  his  brigade  drawn 
up  in  line,  and  there  the  weary  men  would  be  obliged  to 
stand  to  their  arms  for  two  or  three  hours,  for  no  earthly 
reason  except  to  gratify  his  unbounded  ambition  to  appear 
always  ready  for  emergencies.  His  men  were  mere  pup 
pets  with  which  to  build  a  name,  and  as  such  he  used  them. 
But  these  morning  parades  soon  came  to  the  notice  of 
General  HOOKER,  who  immediately  put  a  stop  to  them, 
and  it  was  not  long  before  NEAGLEE  was  appointed  to  a 
command  in  another  division,  and  General  GROVER,  of 
Vermont,  whom  we  all  learned  to  love  and  respect,  was 
assigned  to  the  command  of  the  brigade. 

Although  we  had  plenty  of  hard  work  to  perform,  there 
was  much  to  interest  and  amuse  us.  To  me,  at  least,  the 
historical  associations  connected  with  the  spot  were  of 
deep  interest.  The  parallels  which  WASHINGTON  had 
built,  eighty  years  before,  could  be  traced  as  easily  as  if 
erected  only  the  day  previous,  and  oftentimes  the  same 
dirt  which  had  been  thrown  up  by  our  forefathers  to  es 
tablish  the  Union  was  shoveled  over  by  us  to  perpetuate 
it.  Many  mementoes  of  that  former  conflict  were  dug 
up, —  cannon  balls  and  the  bones  of  soldiers  who  had 
fallen  in  the  dying  struggle  of  British  power  on  our  soil. 
One  can  scarcely  realize  the  reverential  awe  with  which 
we  viewed  these  remains  of  the  brave  ancestry  whose 
achievements  had  always  formed  a  part  of  our  national 
creed,  and  whose  memory  we  had  from  childhood's  hour 


THE    SIEGE    OF   YORKTOWN.  47 

been  taught  to  treasure  up,  as  having  given  their  lives 
that  we  might  enjoy  the  blessings  of  a  free  country. 
Their  remains  were  always  re  -  interred,  and  with  as  much 
care  and  solemnity  as  when  eighty  years  before  the  welter 
ing  bodies  had  first  been  placed  beneath  the  sod. 

Within  three  weeks  our  parallels  had  been  advanced 
close  to  the  rebel  works,  most  of  the  siege  guns  and  mon 
ster  mortars  were  in  position,  and  we  congratulated  our 
selves  that  but  little  remained  to  do  except  to  cut  down 
the  trees  which  masked  the  batteries,  and  pour  in  a  fire 
which  would  make  Yorktown  a  second  Sodom.  But  the 
coveted  sight  of  the  great  bombardment  we  were  doomed 
not  to  witness,  for  the  rebels,  coming  to  the  conclusion 
that  their  vaunted  position  was  not  tenable,  evacuated  it. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the  fourth  day  of  May, 
Professor  LOWE  ascended  a  few  hundred  feet  in  his  bal 
loon,  and,  as  he  glanced  toward  the  rebel  works,  he  shouted 
to  a  signal  officer  on  the  ground  beneath,  "  Telegraph  to 
headquarters  that  there  are  no  men  to  be  seen  in  the  en 
emy's  works,  and  that  a  body  of  our  troops  are  advancing 
on  them  as  skirmishers."  The  news  spread  like  wild 
fire,  causing  the  most  intense  excitement,  and  it  was  not 
long  before  we  had  positive  confirmation  of  the  fact  from 
the  lips  of  those  who  had  entered  the  deserted  works. 
Immediately  came  the  orders  to  pack  up  ready  for  a  march, 
and  hardly  an  hour  after  they  were  received  our  division 
was  marching  up  the  dusty  road  toward-  Yorktown,  in 
pursuit  of  the  retreating  enemy.  So  sudden  and  unex 
pected  was  our  movement  that  we  had  no  time  to  draw 
rations,  and  many  of  the  men  had  hardly  a  bite  of  food 
until  the  following  Tuesday. 

We  marched  straight  through  the  immense  works  which 


48  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT, 

had  so  long  frowned  defiance  upon  us.  The  heavy  guns, 
whose  hoarse  voices  had  become  familiar,  were  silent, — 
some  spiked,  and  some  filled  to  the  muzzle  with  sand  and 
dirt,  while  others  had  been  left  entirely  uninjured.  The 
gun  which  had  been  the  pride  of  the  rebel  garrison,  a 
rifled  hundred -pounder,  lay  scattered  about  in  fragments. 
The  rebels  had  attempted  to  return  an  unexploded  shell 
which  had  been  sent  into  their  works  from  one  of  our  gun 
boats,  but  the  gun  would  not  endure  the  use  of  the  strange 
projectile,  and  exploded,  killing  and  wounding  several  of 
the  rebel  gunners. 

Actuated  by  the  same  fiendish,  barbarous  spirit  which 
afterwards  prompted  them  so  cruelly  to  murder  our  pris 
oners  in  loathsome  pens,  and  to  perpetrate  the  heart  - 
sickening  crimes,  of  which  Fort  Pillow  and  Milliken's 
Bend  are  but  mere  examples,  the  rebels  had  planted  the 
roads  and  all  ground  likely  to  be  trod  by  our  men,  with 
torpedoes.  Several  soldiers  were  blown  up  by  these  in 
fernal  contrivances,  before  the  men  could  realize  that  the 
rebels  had  been  guilty  of  such  an  atrocity.  Then  the 
vicinity  was  carefully  explored,  and  the  locality  of  each 
torpedo  discovered  indicated  by  a  little  red  flag,  or  by  a 
sentinel  posted  near  it.  The  natural  effect  of  these  con 
trivances  was  to  prevent  straggling  from  the  ranks,  for 
while  the  men  could  follow  safely  in  the  wake  of  their 
file -leaders,  a  deviation  of  a  few  feet  might  send  them 
headlong  into  eternity. 

We  pressed  briskly  forward  over  the  Williamsburg 
road,  occasionally  coming  across  a  wagon  or  caisson  which 
had  been  abandoned  by  the  rebels.  Late  in  the  afternoon 
we  met  about  half  a  dozen  wounded  cavalry  men  going 
to  the  rear.  They  told  us  the  enemy  were  but  a  short  dis- 


THE    SIEGE    OF    YORKTOWN.  49 

tance  ahead,  in  line  of  battle,  which  announcement  sent 
an  electric  thrill  through  the  whole  line  of  enthusiastic 
soldiers,  and,  halting  for  a  moment  to  load  our  pieces,  we 
set  out  again  with  renewed  vigor. 

Night  came,  but  still  we  blundered  on  over  the  rough 
road  upon  which  HOOKER  led  us.  In  the  inky  darkness 
we  could  not  pick  our  way,  but  alternated  our  time  be 
tween  struggling  knee -deep  through  the  quagmires  and 
sprawling  at  full  length  over  the  obtrusive  stumps,  and  it 
was  nearly  midnight  when  we  filed  from  the  road  and 
threw  ourselves  to  rest  upon  the  ground  of  a  little  clearing 
which  had  been  hewn  from  the  dense  pine  forest  of  the 
region, 


CHAPTER     VII. 


THE       BATTLE      OF      WILLIAM  SBTJRG 


COLD,  drizzling  rain  ushered  in  the 
morning  of  the  "  glorious  Fifth  of 
May,"  in  the  midst  of  which  the  brig 
ade  resumed  its  march,  the  men  picking 
their  way  as  best  they  could  by  the 
side  of  the  muddy  road.  We  passed 
a  little  work,  behind  which  the  rebels 
had  checked  the  advance  of  our  cav 
alry  the  day  before,  and  had  proceeded 
about  two  miles  from  our  bivouac  when 
a  picket  post  of  the  enemy's  was 
encountered,  who  fired  a  few  shots  at  our  advance.  Dispo 
sitions  were  immediately  made  for  a  fight,  which  was  the 
signal  for  cooks,  waiters  and  all  other  non  -  combatants  to 
stream  to  the  rear.  General  GROVEB.  came  riding  up  to  the 
Second.  "  I  want  that  New  Hampshire  company  with 
patent  rifles  !  Where  are  they  ? "  he  exclaimed.  The 
company  called  for  (Company  B)  and  also  Company  E,  were 
detached  from  the  regiment  and  sent  forward  as  skir 
mishers,  while  the  brigade  formed  a  line  of  battle,  the 
Second  and  the  Eleventh  Massachusetts  on  the  right  of 


THE    BATTLE    OF   WILLIAMSBURG.  51 

the  road,  and  the  First  Massachusetts  and  Twenty-  Sixth 
Pennsylvania  upon  the  left.  As  the  skirmishers  advanced, 
an  almost  impenetrable  abatis  of  felled  trees  obstructed 
their  progress,  but  they  wormed  their  way  through  it,  all 
of  the  time  hotly  engaged  with  the  rebel  riflemen.  We 
struggled  on  after  them  until  the  edge  of  the  slashing  was 
reached,  when,  taking  cover  behind  logs  and  stumps,  we 
waited  the  development  of  events  and  took  our  notes  of 
"  the  situation." 

A  broad,  undulating  plain  lay  before  us,  across  which 
we  could  see  the  spires  and  buildings  of  the  little  city  of 
Williamsburg  peeping  from  their  bed  of  forest  trees, 
Between  us  and  the  city  a  line  of  small  redoubts  rose 
from  the  green  bosom  of  the  plain,  the  largest  of  which, 
called  Fort  Magruder,  mounted  several  guns  and  com 
manded  the  road  upon  which  we  had  advanced.  A  line 
of  rifle-pits  dotted  the  field  to  the  front  of  the  fort,  in 
each  of  which  crouched  a  rebel  sharpshooter.  Fort 
Magruder  shelled  the  woods  and  abatis  so  vigorously 
and  the  sharpshooters  kept  up  so  brisk  a  fire  that,  al 
though  we  kept  well  under  cover,  many  of  the  men  were 
wounded. 

For  full  three  hours  our  solitary  brigade  remained  in 
this  position.  Although  the  rebels  had  a  heavy  force 
massed  under  cover  of  th£  redoubts,  they  did  not  develop 
it,  thinking,  evidently,  that  the  greater  part  of  our  army 
confronted  them,  and  preferring  to  await  an  attack  rather 
than  to  make  one.  Meanwhile  we  amused  ourselves  in 
watching  the  gunners  on  Fort  Magruder  flourish  their 
dangerous  looking  sticks  around  the  guns  which  peered 
over  the  walls ;  and  some  tried  their  hand  at  sharp- 
shooting  with  the  rebel  riflemen,  and  with  good  effect. 


52  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

"  There,"  shouted  one  of  our  men,  a  good  shot,  as  he  dis 
charged  his  piece,  after  having  for  several  minutes  kept 
it  steadily  pointed  at  one  of  the  little  mounds,  awaiting 
the  periodical  appearance  of  the  rifleman's  head,  "  There, 
I  plugged  that  fellow's  head,  and  he  was  black  enough  to 
be  a  nigger  !  "  The  next  day  an  Indian  sharpshooter  was 
found  dead  in  the  pit,  drilled  through  the  head  by  the 
unerring  bullet  of  the  New  Hampshire  soldier. 

As  the  time  passed  without  bringing  us  any  reinforce 
ments,  we  began  to  grow  impatient  under  the  annoying 
fire  from  Fort  Magruder.  But  at  last  our  hearts  were 
gladdened  by  the  fierce  notes  of  an  artillery  bugle,  and  a 
regular  battery  came  rumbling  up  the  road,  going  into  po 
sition  in  the  field  to  our  front.  Immediately  all  the  rebel 
guns  were  turned  upon  the  battery,  when,  to  our  inex 
pressible  mortification,  most  of  the  gunners  deserted  their 
posts  and  fled  in  dismay.  Our  entire  regiment  rose  to 
their  feet  with  one  impulse,  cursing  the  artillerists  for 
their  cowardly  abandonment  of  the  guns,  and  giving  to 
those  who  came  into  our  ranks  more  kicks  and  hard  blows 
than  most  men  would  be  willing  to  receive.  But  soon  a 
company  of  volunteer  artillerists  came  up,  manned  the 
deserted  guns,  and  worked  them  with  such  a  will  that 
every  gun  on  Fort  Magruder  was  silenced. 

At  length  JOHNSTON,  the  re\>el  commander,  appeared 
to  have  discovered  that  he  had  been  deceived  as  to  the 
strength  of  the  force  in  his  front,  and  determined  to  as 
sume  the  offensive.  A  heavy  force  of  rebels  filed  out 
from  the  rear  of  Fort  Magruder  and  marched  down  across 
the  field  to  attack  us  upon  the  left.  Fortunately  for  us 
the  remainder  of  our  division  had  arrived  and  taken  a 
position  to  meet  this  new  movement,  the  gallant  New 


THE    BATTLE    OF    WILLIAMSBURG.  53 

Jersey  Brigade  upon  the  extreme  left,  in  the  woods,  and 
the  Excelsior  Brigade  connecting  with  their  right. 

Soon  the  sharp  volleys  of  musketry  in  that  direction 
told  us  that  the  engagement  had  begun  in  earnest,  and 
the  roar  of  battle  increased  until  it  became  terrific.  The 
solid,  pounding  volleys  of  the  Jersey  boys  mingled  with 
the  fierce  rattle  of  the  rebel  rifles,  and  above  all  the 
shouts  of  the  excited  combatants  would  occasionally  rise 
as  one  side  or  the  other  gained  some  temporary  advantage. 

While  this  terrible  engagement  was  going  on  so  close  at 
hand,  the  Second  boys  were  taking  as  much  comfort  as 
possible  in  the  situation.  Many  took  out  their  shelter - 
tents  and  spread  them  upon  the  bushes  as  a  protection 
against  the  drizzling  rain,  and  some  built  little  fires  over 
which  to  cook  their  coffee,  despite  the  shells  and  bullets 
which  were  whistling  about  their  cars.  More  than  one 
shelter -tent  was  riddled  with  balls,  and  at  least  one  cup 
of  coffee  was  sent  spinning  several  feet,  to  the  infinite 
disgust  of  the  unlucky  owner.  Among  the  coolest  and 
most  unconcerned  of  the  whole  crowd  was  a  large,  noble 
looking  clog,  who,  whenever  a  ball  passed  near  him, 
snapped  spitefully  at  it,  as  if  he  was  catching  flies. 
"  Tige"  can  thank  his  canine  stars  that  he  was  not  nimble 
enough  to  catch  one. 

The  brave  troops  on  our  left  held  their  position  man 
fully,  until  the  ground  was  covered  with  their  dead,  but 
no  reinforcements  coming  to  their  aid,  they  were  at  length 
obliged  to  give  way  before  the  repeated  onslaughts  of 
overwhelming  numbers.  This  rendered  our  position  un 
tenable,  and  we  were  ordered  to  fall  back  to  the  edge  of 
the  woods.  In  accomplishing  this  movement  we  lost 
many  men,  as,  in  climbing  over  the  felled  trees,  we  were 


54  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

obliged  to  fully  expose  ourselves  to  the  fire  of  the  advanc 
ing  and  exultant  rebels.  Several  pieces  of  the  artillery 
which  had  silenced  Fort  Magruder  were  abandoned  to  the 
enemy. 

As  soon  as  we  had  re  -  formed  in  the  edge  of  the  woods 
we  were  ordered  across  the  road  to  meet  the  terrible  dan 
ger  which  threatened  to  overwhelm  all.  We  deployed  as 
skirmishers,  with  intervals  of  five  paces,  thus  forming  a 
very  long  and  very  thin  line,  but  not  a  weak  one,  as  the 
rebels  learned  to  their  sorrow.  With  orders  to  keep 
covered  as  much  as  possible,  we  advanced,  and  were  soon 
engaged  in  a  fierce  bushwhacking  fight  with  the  enemy. 
Some  confusion  was  at  first  occasioned  by  a  misunder 
standing,  which  might  have  resulted  in  serious  conse 
quences.  Many  of  the  men,  and  even  officers  of  high 
rank,  hesitated  about  firing  upon  the  rebels  when  they 
were  encountered,  fearing  that  their  gray  overcoats  might 
be  those  of  the  Massachusetts  boys  of  our  brigade,  which 
indecision  oftentimes  gave  the  rebels  the  advantage  of  the 
first  fire,  and  cost  us  many  true  men. 

The  rebels  were  somewhat  surprised  at  the  tactics  of 
the  New  Hampshire  boys.  One  of  them  who  was  taken 
prisoner  remarked  :  "  Those  Jersey  fellows  kept  a  solid 
line,  and  we  felt  sure  of  beating  them,  but  when  you 
New  Hampshire  fellows  went  to  picking  us  off  from  be 
hind  trees,  it  was  another  matter." 

For  four  hours  our  line  of  skirmishers  kept  the  rebels 
at  bay.  It  was  a  fight  of  desperation  against  numbers. 
We  were  kept  well  reinforced  by  the  fighting  bloods 
from  other  regiments  which  had  been  broken  up  and  scat 
tered.  Now  we  would  be  forced  back  by  the  weight  of 
numbers,  when  a  fierce  stand  would  be  made  and  the  lost 


THE    BATTLE    OF    WILLIAMSBURG.  55 

ground  recovered.  Often  the  parties  mingled  together  in 
hand-to-hand  conflicts.  Lieutenant  "DAVE"  STEELE, 
with  a  few  men  of  his  company  (G)  encountered  a  squad 
of  rebels  of  twice  their  number.  "DAVE"  made  a  dash 
among  them,  swinging  his  sword  and  shouting  at  the  top 
of  his  voice :  "  Surrender,  you  d — d  scoundrels,  or  Til 
blow  your  brains  out  /"  As  he  had  no  sign  of  a  fire-arm 
about  his  person,  it  is  still  a  matter  of  doubt  how  he  pro 
posed  to  perform  the  operation ;  but  the  rebels  could  not 
resist  his  eloquent  appeal,  and  threw  down  their  arms 
without  delay. 

Capt.  LEONARD  DROWN,  of  Company  E,  one  of  the 
bravest  officers  in  the  service,  was  shot  dead  by  a  squad 
of  rebels  bearing  a  white  flag,  whom  he  had  called  upon 
to  "come  in,"  supposing  they  wished  to  surrender. 
Rebel  prisoners  with  whom  we  afterwards  conversed, 
alluded  to  the  incident,  but  insisted  that  the  flag  which 
deceived  the  brave  captain  and  cost  him  his  life,  was  only 
a  battle  -  flag,  faded  unftl  the  figure  upon  it  was  hardly 
visible. 

The  guns  of  Fort  Magrauder,  no  longer  exposed  to  the 
fire  which  had  silenced  them,  again  opened,  while  on  our 
side  three  Napoleon  guns  had  been  planted  in  the  deep 
mud  of  the  road,  and  poured  round  after  round  of  canis 
ter  into  the  rebel  raaks.  Gen.  HOOKER,  coated  with  mud 
from  head  to  foot,  rode  coolly  up  and  down  the  road,  en 
couraging  the  men  to  deeds  of  heroism  both  by  word 
and  deed.  GROVER  was  everywhere,  encouraging  his 
weary  brigade.  HEINTZELMAN  rode  furiously  from  one 
point  to  another.  "  Give  it  to  'em  !"  "  Pile  'em  up  !" 
he  shouted.  Some  of  the  men  who  had  used  up  their 
ammunition,  informed  him  of  the  fact.  "  If  you  haven't 


56  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

got  any  powder,  shout  —  hooray  —  make  a  noise  —  do 
something,"  he  replied.  Then  turning  to  a  musician 
near,  he  inquired,  "  Here,  you  fellow,  are  you  the  band?" 
44 1  am  a  musician,  sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  Go  to  tooting 
on  your  old  trumpet,  then — Yankee  Doodle,  Dixie  —  any 
thing —  blow  away!"  Then  turning  to  the  men,  "Hoo 
ray!  Richmond's  taken!  Reinforcements  close  at  hand! 
Be  here  in  fifteen  minutes !  Give  it  to  'em !"  To  realize 
fully  the  ludicrous  manner  in  which  the  sentences  were 
snapped  out,  the  reader  should  know  that  the  old  general 
was  afflicted  with  a  peculiar  impediment  in  his  speech, 
and  that  his  w^ords  were  run  out  as  if  on  a  wager  to  see 
how  many  he  could  get  rid  of  in  a  certain  time.  Soon 
the  bands  struck  up,  the  men  who  had  no  ammunition 
cheered  like  madmen,  and  the  reckless  spirit  of  Gen. 
HEINTZELMAN  seemed  to  infuse  itself  through  everybody. 
It  was  nearly  night  before  our  reinforcements  came 
pressing  up  the  road,  as  fast  as  was  possible,  through  the 
deep  mud.  The  sounds  of  the  Highlanders'  bagpipes  did 
not  sound  sweeter  to  the  ears  of  the  beleaguered  at  Luck- 
now  than  did  the  distant  cheers  which  heralded  the  ap 
proach  of  KEARNEY'S  men  to  ours;  and  when  the  brave 
regiments  arrived  and  dashed  in  upon  the  rebels  with  a 
fury  which  could  not  be  withstood,  we  were  glad  to  fall 
back  from  the  position,  to  maintain  which  so  many  valua 
ble  lives  had  been  given  up.  The  battle  had  been  fought 
and  the  victory  won.  HOOKER,  from  the  very  jaws  of 
threatening  disaster,  had  plucked  the  first  green  laurel  for 
his  fadeless  wreath  of  glory,  and  his  division  had  carved 
a  page  upon  American  history  which  no  true  lover  of  his 
country  can  read  without  feeling  a  glow  of  pride  at  the 
glorious  achievements  of  his  countrymen.  And  may  not 


THE    BATTLE    OF   WILLIAMSBURG.  57 

such  person  question  why  for  so  many  hours  our  single 
division  was  left  to  maintain  the  unequal  conflict,  while 
thousands  of  troops,  eager  to  mingle  in  the  fray,  were 
held  inactive  within  hearing  and  almost  within  range  of 
the  enemy's  guns  ? 

The  loss  of  our  division  on  this  ever  -  memorable  day 
amounted  to  three  hundred  and  thirty  -  eight  killed,  nine 
hundred  and  two  wounded,  and  three  hundred  and  thirty  - 
five  missing  and  prisoners  —  an  aggregate  of  fifteen  hun 
dred  and  seventy -five.  HANCOCK,  in  his  little  affair 
upon  the  right,  — which  many  people  in  the  regions  where 
his  regiments  were  raised  still  persist  in  believing  to  be 
the  battle  of  Williamsburg, — lost  but  thirty -one  men,  a 
loss  not  equal  to  that  of  some  companies  in  our  division. 
Impartial  history  will  give  the  credit  of  the  victory  to  the 
proper  persons,  instead  of  recommitting  the  errors  of 
many  people  of  our  times,  who,  to  gratify  their  local  or 
family  pride,  would  appropriate  for  regiments  from  their 
own  section  the  glory  won  at  a  terrible  sacrifice  of  pre 
cious  lives  by  others.  By  such  a  course  they  but  do  gross 
injustice  to  the  patriotic  General  HANCOCK  and  his  brave 
men,  who  afterwards  won  their  full  share  of  glory 
wherever  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  measured  its  strength 
with  the  enemy. 

The  loss  in  the  Second  Regiment  was  by  no  means  so 
heavy  as  that  of  the  regiments  in  the  SICKLES  and  New 
Jersey  Brigades,  owing  to  the  different  modes  of  fighting. 
It  amounted  to  eighteen  killed,  sixty -six  wounded,  and 
twenty  -  three  missing. 

As  soon  as  it  became  certain  that  the  victory  had  been 
secured  for  our  arms,  the  remnants  of  the  division  were 
collected  together  and  camped  about  a  mile  to  the  rear, 

3 


58  SECOXD   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

and  though  wet  and  chilled,  hungry  and  weary,  our  mar 
tyred  comrades  who  lay  stark  upon  the  battle  field  were 
hardly  more  oblivious  to  passing  events  than  were  we, 
upon  the  water  -  soaked  ground  where  we  threw  ourselves 
to  rest. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  sixth,  the  troops  who 
had  been  held  inactive  the  day  before  began  to  pour  up 
the  road,  "in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  rebels,"  while 
squads  from  the  division  went  out  upon  the  field  in  search 
of  wounded  comrades  who  had  lain  all  night  in  the  cold, 
drizzling  rain.  The  scene  of  the  conflict  was  ghastly  in 
the  extreme,  the  men  lying  in  every  attitude,  and  exhibit 
ing  every  form  of  shocking  mutilation.  The  rebel  dead 
lay  thickest  in  an  old  rifle  pit  of  Revolutionary  date,  just 
within  the  edge  of  the  woods.  It  was  in  this  pit  that 
KEARNEY'S  men  first  encountered  them  in  their  furious 
charge,  and  in  places  the  dead  lay  literally  in  heaps. 
Seven  bodies  lay  in  one  pile,  by  the  side  of  a  log  just  to 
the  rear  of  the  ditch.  The  rebels  had  turned  to  flee 
when  the  last  onset  was  made,  but  had  fallen  all  together 
before  the  murderous  volley  from  the  advancing  line.  In 
a  partially  obstructed  road  which  ran  through  the  slash 
ing,  lay  scores  of  the  Excelsior  boys,  gory  and  ghastly, 
and  on  the  left,  where  the  Jersey  Brigade  had  fought,  the 
dead  lay  in  broad  winrows.  It  was  indeed  a  "harvest 
of  death,"  where 

"  A  broad  field  was  reaped  Heaven's  garners  to  fill." 

That  day  we  moved  from  the  woods,  pitching  our  camp 
on  the  green  plain  in  front  of  Fort  Magruder,  and  com 
menced  the  burial  of  the  dead.  Many  were  buried  upon 
the  spot  where  they  fell,  but  most  of  those  belonging  to 


THE    BATTLE    OF   WILLIAMSBURG.  59 

the  Jersey  and  Excelsior  Brigades  were  collected  together 
and  buried  in  long  trenches.  This  could  not  well  be 
done  with  the  dead  of  our  brigade,  as  they  were  scattered 
upon  all  parts  of  the  field.  A  piece  of  board,  or  a  stick 
with  one  side  shaved  down,  and  rudely  lettered  with  the 
soldier's  name,  regiment  and  company,  was  his  only 
tombstone.  Sometimes  a  board  carved  with  more  than 
usual  labor  would  show  where  some  soldier  had  paid  his 
last  sad  tribute  to  a  dear  friend's  memory.  How  sad  a 
tale  might  some  of  these  rude  head -boards  tell,  were 
theirs  the  gift  of  speaking :  of  two  friends,  perhaps, 
going  forth  together  to  sustain  the  integrity  of  their 
country  and  her  flag ;  of  the  long  and  weary  marches, 
enlivened  by  their  mutual  remembrances  of  home  and  its 
dear  ones;  of  the  star -lit  bivouac,  where  beneath  the 
same  blanket  bright  visions  of  northern  scenes  and  north 
ern  loves  had  come  to  them  in  dreams  ;  of  privations  and 
dangers  shared  with  more  than  brother's  love,  and  all  to 
end  in  a  little  mound  of  earth  on  Williamsburg's  field, 
from  which  but  one  would  go  forth  to  the  coming  cam 
paigns,  with  a  great  aching  at  his  heart,  but  with  strong 
desire  to  meet  those  who  had  robbed  him  of  his  friend. 

As  soon  as  the  dead  had  been  properly  cared  for,  the 
arms  and  equipments  which  strewed  the  field  gathered 
up,  and  the  felled  timber  thoroughly  burned,  the  brigade 
moved  its  camp  to  a  position  nearer  the  city.  Gen. 
GROVEE,  was  appointed  Military  Governor  of  the  place, 
and  for  some  time  we  performed  the  duties  of  provost 
guard,  while  the  army  pressed  on  up  the  Peninsula. 

In  the  rebel  camps  around  the  city  we  found  a  large 
quantity  of  first-class  tents,  some  "  Sibley,"  and  others 
wall  tents,  bearing  the  name  of  their  maker,  "  S.  J. 


60  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

MYERS,  Richmond."  These  we  appropriated  as  being 
preferable  to  our  little  shelter  tents,  and  some  of  them, 
fitted  up  with  chairs  and  tables,  were  perfect  palaces, 
when  compared  with  what  we  had  been  accustomed  to. 
Rebel  stretchers  were  eagerly  seized  upon  by  the  men, 
who  slept  upon  them  with  hardly  a  thought  that  what  to 
them  were  couches  of  comfort  and  rest,  had  but  a  few 
days  before  been  beds  of  agony  for  the  wounded  and 
biers  for  the  dead. 

We  had  plenty  of  opportunities  for  looking  over  the 
city,  and  found  it  to  be  a  quaint  old  place,  in  former  days 
a  city  of  note,  but  now  shorn  of  its  glory,  and  struggling 
hard  to  maintain  an  appearance  of  municipal  respecta 
bility.  There  were  many  fine  public  buildings,  among 
the  most  interesting  of  which  was  the  College  of  Wil 
liam  and  Mary,  the  oldest  college  in  the  United  States, 
where  many  of  Virginia's  most  celebrated  sons  had  been 
educated. 

The  public  halls  and  buildings  were  filled  with  rebel 
wounded.  Every  day  the  Williamsburg  ladies  —  so  they 
called  themselves  —  visited  these  hospitals,  which  also 
contained  a  number  of  wounded  Union  soldiers,  bringing 
with  them  dainties  and  delicacies  for  the  rebels.  This 
was  all  very  well,  had  they  not  taken  every  occasion  to 
insult  and  wound  the  feelings  of  the  loyal  sufferers  in  the 
most  outrageous  manner.  If,  in  distributing  their  dain 
ties  a  cot  was  encountered  on  which  lay  a  soldier  in 
army  blue,  the  fair  visitors  would  withdraw  their  skirts 
to  avoid  the  contaminating  touch  of  the  loyal  hero,  and 
utter  some  insulting  remarks  concerning  "cowardly  Yan 
kees,"  or  "  vile  invaders."  This  intense  bitterness  of 
feeling  was,  however,  sometimes  turned  to  good  account 


THE    BATTLE    OF   AVILLIAMSBUKG.  61 

by  the  cunning  Yankees,  as  was  the  case  with  one  of  our 
teamsters,  who,  clad  in  a  suit  of  dingy  gray  and  with  his 
arm  in  a  sling,  introduced  himself  to  a  rabid  secesh 
family  as  a  member  of  the  Louisiana  Tigers,  severely 
wounded  in  a  terrific  conflict  with  some  half  a  dozen 
Yankees,  three  of  whom  he  killed  outright,  and  put  to 
ignominious  flight  the  remainder.  He  was,  of  course, 
received  with  open  arms,  and  was  ever  after  sure  of  a 
hearty  welcome  and  a  good  supper,  whenever  he  saw  fit 
to  give  his  friends  a  call. 

We  remained  in  Williamsburg  about  a  fortnight,  when, 
being  relieved  by  a  cavalry  detachment,  we  started  on  up 
the  Peninsula  in  the  footsteps  of  the  army,  which  was 
then  sparring  with  the  rebels  across  the  turbid  waters  of 
the  Chickahominy. 


CHAPTER     VIII. 


THE       CHICKAHOMINY       SWAMP. 


(XTENDING  from  near  Williamsburg 
to  the  very  gates  of  Richmond  is  the 
Chickahominy  Swamp,  through  which 
the  great  army  of  MCCLELLAN  strug 
gled  in  pursuit  of  the  rebels.  Mile  after 
mile  of  almost  impenetrable  morass 
there  were,  into  the  gloomy  depths  of 
which  the  column  of  troops  plunged, 
toiling  wearily  on  where  the  mud  was 
often  ankle  or  knee  deep.  Where  the 
foot  soldiers  found  so  much  difficulty 
in  making  their  way,  the  trouble  encountered  by  the 
teamsters  with  their  heavy  wagons,  and  by  the  artillery, 
may  be  readily  imagined.  The  whole  country  traversed 
was  by  no  means  of  this  description,  as  there  was  a  great 
deal  of  high  land  intervening,  which  formed  welcome 
camping  grounds  for  the  men  after  a  day  spent  in  battling 
with  the  mud  of  the  swamp. 

We  reached  the  Chickahominy  at  Bottom  Bridge  in 


IX    THE    CHICKAHOMINY    SWAMP.  63 

about  a  week,  where  we  found  several  divisions  camped 
awaiting  the  signal  for  advance.  The  day  after  our 
arrival  a  reconnoissance  in  force  was  made  in  the  direction 
of  Fair  Oaks,  by  Gen.  NEAGLEE,  of  CASEY'S  Division, 
our  former  brigade  commander,  and  HOOKER'S  Division 
was  ordered  across  the  river  as  a  support.  The  river  was 
swollen  by  recent  rains,  and  the  flats  along  its  banks  were 
nearly  covered  with  water,  but  across  them  we  picked 
our  way  and  advanced  about  three  miles  upon  the  Rich 
mond  road,  where  we  halted  behind  some  rudely  built 
rifle  pits,  posted  our  artillery,  and  patiently  waited  the 
whole  day  for  some  requisition  to  be  made  for  our  ser 
vices.  But  they  were  not  needed,  and  at  sunset  we 
began  to  retrace  our  steps  to  camp. 

Night  came  on,  dark  and  gloomy,  and  we  had  those 
flooded  meadows  to  recross.  This  had  been  a  difficult 
matter  in  broad  daylight,  and  the  prospects  for  a  safe 
passage  by  night  were  by  no  means  flattering.  Two  or 
three  men  in  the  line  were  equal  to  the  emergency,  and 
lighting  the  little  pieces  of  candles  which  they  carried  in 
their  knapsacks,  they  stuck  them  into  the  muzzles  of 
their  guns  for  impromptu  torches.  The  cue  thus  fur 
nished  was  immediately  taken  up  by  the  rest  of  the  men, 
and  thousands  of  the  little  flickering  torches  lit  up  the 
line  of  march.  It  was  a  scene  which  could  not  have  been 
surpassed  for  picturesque  effect ;  but,  produced  as  sud 
denly  as  if  by  magician's  wand,  as  suddenly  it  vanished, 
for  one  of  Gen.  GROVER'S  aides  rode  back  from  the  head 
of  the  column,  and  put  a  damper  upon  the  highly  dra 
matic  scene,  by  a  rather  blunt  and  unpoetic  order  to 
"  Put  out  those  devilish  candles  !"  The  general  did  not 
wish  to  advertise  his  movements  to  any  rebel  lookout, 


64  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

who  from  some  distant  tree  -  top  might  be  counting  the 
Yankee  camp  -  fires  and  noting  the  positions  of  the  vari 
ous  encampments.  So  we  made  our  way  across  the 
flooded  flats  as  best  we  could  in  the  darkness,  floundering 
half  the  way  up  to  our  waists  in  mud  and  water.  Upon 
reaching  the  river  we  soused  ourselves  and  made  our  way 
to  the  cheerless  camp,  dripping  from  head  to  foot. 

In  a  day  or  two  we  again  crossed  the  Chickahominy 
and  marched  to  Poplar  Hill,  about  six  miles  from  Fair 
Oaks.  The  portion  of  the  swamp  in  that  vicinity  was 
known  as  White  Oak  Swamp,  and  White  Oak  Creek 
wound  around  the  foot  of  the  hill.  This  was  a  very  im 
portant  position,  commanding  the  road  from  Richmond  to 
Bottom  Bridge,  the  loss  of  which  would  have  been  a 
serious  disaster  to  our  army  at  that  time. 

On  the  thirty -first  of  May  began  the  great  battle  of 
Fair  Oaks.  CASEY,  with  his  division,  at  this  time  occu 
pied  an  advanced  and  almost  isolated  position  at  Fair 
Oaks,  a  large  portion  of  the  army  being  as  yet  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Chickahominy,  while  a  terrible  rain  the 
night  previous  had  converted  this  usually  sluggish  stream 
into  a  raging  torrent,  and  the  meadows  along  its  banks 
into  broad  lakes,  seriously  threatening  the  communication 
between  the  two  wings  of  the  army.  With  all  these  cir 
cumstances  in  his  favor,  JOHNSTON  assumed  the  offensive, 
and  falling  upon  CASEY  with  forty  thousand  men,  he 
fairly  crushed  his  little  division  by  weight  of  numbers, 
capturing  nearly  all  of  his  artillery,  his  camps  and  stores, 
and  forcing  him  ba.ck  in  confusion  until  KEARNEY  met 
and  checked  the  rout.  In  camp  at  Poplar  Hill,  we  heard 
the  heavy  volleys  of  musketry,  but  how  near  we  came  to 
being  active  participants  we  never  knew  until  the  rebel 


IN    THE    CHICKAHOMINY    SWAMP.  65 

reports  of  the  battle  were  received.  From  them  it  ap 
peared  that  JOHNSTON'S  plans  embraced  the  capture  of 
Poplar  Hill,  and  an  advance  to  Bottom  Bridge,  the  pos 
session  of  which  would  at  the  same  time  have  cut  off  one 
of  the  main  avenues  of  retreat  for  CASEY,  and  prevented 
the  arrival  of  reinforcements.  To  accomplish  this  a 
strong  rebel  division  set  out  upon  the  proper  road,  but 
when  the  commander  heard  the  sounds  of  the  attack  upon 
CASEY,  like  the  model  soldiers  of  holiday  orators,  he 
**  marched  towards  the  scene  of  conflict,"  thus  defeating 
one  of  the  most  important  points  in  JOHNSTON'S  well- 
devised  programme. 

The  next  day  the  battle  was  renewed.  Grizzly  old 
SUMNER,  by  almost  superhuman  efforts,  got  a  portion  of 
his  force  across  the  Chickahominy,  while  HOOKER,  with 
the  Excelsior  and  Jersey  Brigades,  hurried  away  from 
Poplar  Hill  to  join  in  the  fray.  The  result  of  this  day's 
work  was  a  glorious  victory,  the  rebels  being  driven  into 
the  defences  of  Richmond  in  the  wildest  disorder.  Dur 
ing  the  day  our  brigade  remained  in  line  of  battle, 
momentarily  expecting  an  attack.  The  bridges  across 
White  Oak  Swamp  were  torn  up,  and  our  artillery  posted 
so  as  to  command  the  crossing,  while  the  Eleventh  Mas 
sachusetts  was  deployed  in  the  woods  as  skirmishers,  and 
every  measure  taken  to  insure  a  successful  defense  of  the 
position ;  but  the  glorious  work  of  SUMNER  and  HOOKER 
secured  to  us  immunity  from  attack. 

On  the  third  day  of  June,  two  days  after  the  battle, 
our  brigade  marched  to  Fair  Oaks.  The  evidences  of  the 
great  contest  presented  themselves  as  we  advanced.  We 
encountered  first  the  stragglers  from  CASEY'S  Division, 
camped  by  the  roadside,  who  regaled  the  passing  troops 
3* 


66  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

with  highly  colored  accounts  of  the  fight ;  then  we  came 
to  an  incomplete  breastwork  where  the  rebel  advance  had 
been  checked,  and  from  there  the  graves  of  both  Union 
and  rebel  soldiers  were  scattered  along  by  the  roadside, 
while  the  trees  were  scarred  and  limbs  severed  by  the 
missiles  of  death.  But  not  until  we  arrived  upon  the 
field  of  Fair  Oaks  did  we  fully  realize  the  magnitude  of 
that  terrible  two -days  struggle.  Hundreds  of  shallow 
graves,  from  which  the  heavy  rains  had  washed  the  dirt 
until  the  arms  and  legs  of  the  dead  protruded  above  the 
ground,  and  hundreds  of  the  dead,  as  yet  unburied,  were 
scattered  through  the  abatis  which  lined  the  Williams- 
burg  road,  and  over  the  swampy,  flooded  plain.  Where 
CASEY'S  artillery  had  been  posted  the  dead  horses  lay  in 
scores,  and  three  houses,  directly  in  the  rear  of  his  un 
finished  breastworks,  were  perforated  by  thousands  of 
bullets. 

The  brigade  marched  directly  to  the  front,  relieving  the 
Excelsior  Brigade  in  trench  duty.  Our  position  during 
the  night  was  uncomfortable  in  the  extreme.  The  late 
attack  had  imbued  our  officers  with  unusual  vigilance, 
and  formed  in  the  rear  of  CASEY'S  ditches  we  received 
strict  orders  against  building  fires,  or  even  resting  our 
selves  upon  the  ground.  Through  the  night,  wet  and 
shivering,  and  surrounded  by  putrefying  corpses,  we  stood 
under  arms.  Gen.  GROVES,  continually  trudged  through 
the  mud  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other,  stirring  up 
those  who,  against  the  orders,  endeavored  to  steal  a  few 
moments  sleep,  and  making  sure  that  no  sudden  rebel 
attack  would  find  the  First  Brigade  napping.  The  pick 
ets,  posted  a  few  hundred  yards  to  our  front,  kept  up  a 
scattering  fire,  which  sometimes,  however,  grew  so  brisk 


IN    THE    CHICKAHOMINY    SWAMP.  67 

that  we  sprang  hastily  into  line,  expecting  the  next  mo 
ment  to  hear  the  shrill,  discordant  yell  with  which  the 
rebels  heralded  their  charges.  Through  the  night  and 
most  of  the  next  day  we  maintained  our  position,  when 
we  were  relieved  and  camped  a  short  distance  to  the  rear. 
Some  of  the  regiments  pitched  their  tents  in  the  night, 
and  when  the  morning  came  many  of  the  men  discovered 
that  they  had  been  sleeping  with  but  a  few  inches  of 
earth  between  them  and  the  bodies  of  the  dead.  One 
man,  whose  survey  by  the  sense  of  feeling  impressed  him 
with  the  idea  that  he  had  secured  an  elegant  site  for  a 
tent,  was  horrified  when  he  opened  his  eyes  the  next 
morning  at  discovering  a  hand,  long  and  ghastly,  pro 
truding  from  the  ground  but  a  few  inches  from  his  head. 
The  rebels,  during  their  temporary  possession  of  the  field, 
had  buried  most  of  their  men  who  fell  on  the  first  day  ; 
but  the  burial  of  those  who  fell  on  the  second  day  fell  to 
us.  This  was  performed  in  a  very  hasty  and  imperfect 
manner,  and  soon  the  terrible  stench  which  arose  from 
the  decaying  bodies,  aided  by  hard  labor  and  the  swamp 
water  we  were  obliged  to  drink,  began  to  tell  on  the 
health  of  the  men,  and  our  sick  list  increased  to  a  fright- 
ful  degree. 

Two  brigades  from  our  division  were  on  duty  regularly 
each  day,  —  one  under  arms  as  trench  and  picket  guard, 
the  other  laboring  upon  the  trenches  and  redoubts.  The 
remaining  brigade  lay  in  camp,  liable  at  any  moment  to 
be  double  -  quicked  to  the  front,  whenever  a  threatening 
demonstration  was  made  on  our  picket  line.  Thus  we 
were  almost  continually  on  duty  of  the  most  fatiguing 
nature,  and  a  night  of  uninterrupted  rest  was  something 
not  often  realized. 


68  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

About  the  middle  of  July  our  brigade  was  reinforced 
by  the  arrival  of  the  Sixteenth  Massachusetts  Regiment, 
which  came  to  us  with  full  ranks  and  new  clothes,  having 
never  seen  rougher  work  than  a  little  picket  duty  along 
the  Blackwater.  They  had  been  three  days  on  their  jour 
ney  to  the  front,  and  had  suffered  during  that  time  almost 
incredible  hardships,  having  been,  as  some  of  the  men 
earnestly  avowed,  three  days  without  a  morsel  of  soft 
bread.  Their  sudden  introduction  into  the  stern  duties  of 
war,  and  upon  such  a  field  as  Fair  Oaks,  found  them  but 
illy  prepared  for  the  rough  fare  and  hard  blows  they  were 
to  receive ;  but  they  were  composed  of  true  metal,  and 
the  old  men  of  the  First  Brigade  never  had  cause  to  blush 
for  their  younger  comrades  in  arms. 

Little  affairs  of  the  pickets  were  of  almost  daily  occur 
rence,  rarely  assuming  a  very  serious  nature.  A  few  days 
after  their  arrival,  the  Sixteenth  Massachusetts  was  sent 
forward  on  a  reconnoissance,  and  going  in  with  all  the 
headlong  rush  of  green  troops,  they  stirred  up  the  rebels 
in  furious  style,  charging  clear  over  the  rough  breastworks 
of  the  rebel  picket  reserve,  and  losing  not  far  from  sixty 
men. 

On  the  twenty -third  of  June,  late  in  the  afternoon, 
five  companies  of  the  Second,  and  a  few  Massachusetts 
companies  who  had  been  on  picket  for  the  previous  twen 
ty-four  hours,  advanced  and  drove  the  rebel  pickets  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Receiving  orders  to  drive  the  enemy 
as  far  as  possible,  we  left  our  picket  posts  and  crept  .cau 
tiously  forward  through  the  thick  growth  of  bushes. 
Our  route  lay  over  a  low  swampy  piece  of  ground,  where 
blueberry  bushes,  bending  beneath  their  burdens  of  lus 
cious  fruit,  grew  luxuriantly.  Our  almost  uninterrupted 


IN   THE    CHICKAHOMINY    SWAMP.  69 

diet  of  hardbread  and  salt  beef  had  given  us  an  appetite 
for  a  change,  and  while  we  crept  cautiously  forward, 
expecting  every  moment  to  receive  the  fire  of  the  rebel 
pickets,  we  improved  the  opportunity  to  fill  ourselves 
with  the  luxury  so  bountifully  offered.  So  stealthily  did 
we  advance  that  some  of  the  men  were  within  a  rod  of 
the  enemy's  videttes  before  discovered.  But  the  report  of 
a  rifle,  sharp  and  sudden,  had  an  effect  as  magical  as  was 
the  whistle  of  RODERICK  DHU,  which 

"  Garrisoned  the  glen 


At  once  with  full  five  hundred  men," 

for  from  every  bush  and  stump  rushed  forth  a  live  Yan 
kee,  and  away  went  the  frightened  rebel  pickets  helter- 
skelter  for  their  reserves.  We  dashed  after  them  for 
nearly  half  a  mile,  when,  coming  to  a  field  in  which  a 
chimney,  blackened  by  fire,  stood  solitary  sentinel  over 
the  ruins  of  what  had  once  been  a  peaceful  home,  we 
halted  for  the  purpose  of  reforming  our  line,  it  being 
evident  that  we  had  already  advanced  so  far  that  the  com 
panies  who  were  to  deploy  from  our  flanks  and  keep  up 
a  connection  with  the  main  picket  line,  had  not  been  able 
to  do  so.  We  were,  in  fact,  isolated,  and  in  a  position 
where  a  rebel  force  might  have  marched  unmolested  to 
our  rear,  and  bagged  the  whole  party.  While  hurriedly 
discussing  the  dangers  of  the  situation,  we  received  a 
sharp  volley  from  the  woods  across  the  field,  to  which  we 
had  hardly  replied  when  another  volley  greeted  us  from 
the  bushes  in  the  rear,  wounding  one  man  \>f  the  party. 
That  we  were  surrounded  by  rebels  was  the  natural  im 
pression,  but  turning  with  the  determination  to  make  a 
headlong  rush  for  liberty,  we  discovered  that  our  new 


70  SECOXD   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

assailants  were  some  of  our  own  men  who  had  been  left 
in  camp  sick  or  on  detailed  duty,  but  who,  when  we 
advanced,  shouldered  their  rifles  and  came  out  to  have  a 
hand  in  the  fight.  Coming  up  just  at  .the  time  we  had 
become  engaged  with  the  picket  reserves,  they  became 
unduly  excited,  and  fired  a  premature  volley  which  came 
near  being  attended  with  serious  consequences.  This 
affair  was  barely  settled,  when  with  a  loud  yell  the  rebels 
came  charging  down  upon  us  in  full  force,  a  solid  front, 
before  which  we  scattered  and  struck  for  our  lines  as  rap 
idly  as  the  rebel  pickets  had  just  been  obliged  to  run 
before  us.  At  the  edge  of  the  field  in  front  of  our  works 
we  found  Col.  COWDIN,  of  the  First  Massachusetts,  with 
several  companies  of  his  regiment,  upon  which  we  rallied. 
"Let  'em  come  on  now,"  said  the  Colonel.  "There 
wont  half  as  many  go  back  as  come  out ! "  A  man  was 
sent  up  the  "lookout  tree,"  who,  though  the  bullets  sung 
merrily  about  his  ears,  maintained  his  position  until  he 
had  counted  several  rebel  battle  flags.  But  the  enemy 
contented  themselves  with  establishing  a  strong  picket  on 
the  old  line,  and  we  maintained  our  former  position  with 
out  any  opposition. 

This  affair  of  the  twenty-third  of  June  was  but  a  pre 
lude  to  a  bloodier  one  which  occurred  two  days  later.  On 
the  twenty -fifth  the  entire  division  was  under  arms,  and, 
leaving  a  portion  of  the  Jersey  Brigade  in  the  works, 
advanced  down  through  the  fields  to  attack  the  rebels  in 
force.  Our  brigade  made  the  attack  upon  the  left.  We 
halted  upon  the  edge  of  the  field  and  the  First  Massachu 
setts  was  sent  in  to  wake  up  the  enemy.  They  disap 
peared  in  the  brush,  and  hardly  a  minute  elapsed  before 
a  deafening  roar  of  musketry  arose  and  the  wounded  came 


IN    THE    CHICK AHOMINY    SWAMP.  71 

streaming  back  in  large  numbers.  The  First  boys  closed 
in  on  the  rebel  pickets  with  their  accustomed  impetuosity 
and  captured  several  of  them,  among  others  a  lieutenant, 
who,  on  his  way  to  the  rear,  passed  Gen.  HOOKER  and 
saluted  him,  which  our  gallant  General  returned  with  true 
soldierly  politeness. 

The  First  soon  encountered  a  stronger  force  than  they 
could  master,  and  Co.  B  of  the  Second  was  ordered  in  as 
a  reinforcement.  The  spiteful  crack  of  their  Sharp's 
rifles  soon  rose  above  the  din  of  conflict,  and  so  unflinch 
ingly  did  they  perform  their  duty  that  of  the  forty -two 
men  who  went  into  the  fight,  twenty -two  were  killed  or 
wounded.  Soon  four  companies  more  of  the  Second  were 
ordered  in,  and  so,  a  few  companies  at  a  time,  as  needed, 
we  advanced  into  the  melee.  The  rebels  made  an  obsti 
nate  fight  but  were  forced  back  until  we  reached  the  limit 
of  our  advance  on  the  twenty  -  fifth,  where  a  halt  was 
ordered  and  the  lines  straightened  and  established. 

While  this  was  being  performed  a  rebel  regiment 
crossed  the  farther  end  of  the  field  to  our  front,  in  gallant 
style,  at  a  double-quick  step,  and  entered  the  bushes  near 
where  one  of  the  Jersey  regiments  was  stationed.  The 
Jersey  boys,  lying  flat  upon  the  ground,  waited  until  the 
rebels  were  close  upon  them,  when  they  delivered  a  volley 
which  for  terrible  effect  hardly  had  its  parallel  during  the 
war,  according  to  reports  in  the  Richmond  papers  of  the 
time.  But  a  very  small  portion  of  those  who  went  so 
bravely  upon  the  field  retraced  their  steps  in  that  helter- 
skelter  flight,  and  as  they  came  within  reach  of  our  rifles 
we  gave  them  a  cross  fire  which  dropped  many  of  those 
the  Jersey  boys  had  spared. 

Sharpshooting  now   became  the   order  of  the   day,  and 


72  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

bullets  were  continually  spinning  across  the  field  in  every 
direction.  As  a  protection  against  the  rebel  riflemen  our 
men  built  a  breastwork  about  two  feet  high,  of  rails,  logs, 
and  anything  convenient,  which  doubtless  saved  many 
lives.  The  lone  chimney  about  midway  across  the  field 
was  taken  possession  of  by  riflemen  from  the  Second,  and 
more  than  one  rebel  received  his  death  wound  from  this 
advanced  post.  Rebels  with  stretchers  appeared,  pick 
ing  up  their  wounded  who  lay  upon  the  field,  but  their 
office  was  a  full  guarantee  of  safety,  and  not  a  bullet  was 
directed  towards  them.  Two  pieces  of  our  artillery  were 
with  great  labor  hauled  through  the  brush,  and  brought 
to  bear  upon  the  rebels,  who  in  return  brought  out  a  couple 
of  pieces  and  kept  up  a  lively  exchange  of  shell  until  our 
battery,  having  used  up  all  its  ammunition,  returned  to 
the  works. 

Night  closed  over  the  scene,  but  still  the  riflemen  kept 
steadily  popping  away,  and  crouching  on  the  ground  we 
could  hear  loud  orders  repeated  in  the  depths  of  the  woods 
to  our  front,  as  if  rebel  officers  were  there  moving  heavy 
bodies  of  troops  into  position. 

At  .midnight  we  were  relieved  by  a  portion  of  Gen. 
COUCH'S  Division.  The  rebels  hearing  the  unusual  noise 
occasioned  by  the  moving  troops,  opened  a  brisk  fire, 
when  both  of  our  lines  faced  to  the  front  and  poured  in 
one  deafening,  stunning  volley.  This  was  our  "  good 
night"  to  the  rebels  and  a  sad  one  too,  judging  from  the 
cries  of  the  wounded,  the  shouts  of  officers  rallying  their 
fleeing  men,  and  the  calls  for  stretchers  which  ensued. 

The  loss  of  the  Second  this  day  was  not  less  than 
seventy  men,  and  other  regiments  suffered  in  the  same 
proportion.  Yet  the  position  which  it  had  cost  so  many 


IN    THE    CHICKAHOMINY   SWAMP.  73 

lives  to  gain  was  abandoned  that  very  night  by  the  troops 
who  relieved  us,  who  came  running  back  towards  the  for 
tifications  in  terrified  squads.  They  had  been  so  long  on 
duty  in  the  rear  that  they  couldn't  get  the  hang  of  picket 
ing  in  the  face  of  the  enemy.  Let  this  be  an  excuse  for 
their  cowardly  conduct,  and  also  the  fact  that  many  officers 
of  high  rank  were  not  backward  in  the  movement.  A  few 
companies  were  deployed  in  front  of  the  works,  and  if  the 
skulkers  were  not  driven  back  to  the  picket  line  they  were 
allowed  to  go  no  farther  to  the  rear,  and  they  received 
cursings  enough  to  satisfy  them  as  to  the  opinion  JOE 
HOOKER'S  fighting  division  entertained  of  their  courage. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


THE  RETREAT  FRO 


FAIR  OAKS. 


HURSDAY  and  Friday,  June  twenty  - 
sixth  and  twenty -seventh,  1862,  were 
fought  the  battles  of  Mechanicsville  and 
Games'  Mills,  which  resulted  in  the  with 
drawal  of  PORTER'S  Corps  from  the  north 
to  the  south  side  of  the  Chickahominy, 
and  the  retreat  of  the  entire  army  to 
Harrison's  Landing,  on  the  James.  In 
camp  at  Fair  Oaks,  we  heard  the  deep 
"thrum"  of  PORTER'S  siege  guns,  and 
at  night  we  were  told  that  "  PORTER 
had  whipped  them  on  the  right,"  which  ever  after  was 
the  common  expression  among  the  men  whenever  at 
tempts  were  made  to  deceive  them  as  to  the  true  con 
dition  of  affairs. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth  we  were  under  arms, 
and  commenced  the  retreat  from  Fair  Oaks.  Every  arti 
cle  of  property  which  could  not  be  carried  was  destroyed. 
Tents  were  slashed  until  they  were  in  shreds,  barrels  of 


THE    RETREAT   FROM   FAIR   OAKS.  75 

coffee,  sugar,  and  other  commissary  articles  opened  and 
the  contents  scattered  in  the  mud  of  the  swamp,  gun-bar 
rels  were  twisted  around  trees,  while  their  stocks  were 
broken  into  splinters,  and  sutlers,  with  unexampled  gener 
osity  opened  their  tents  and  told  the  men  to  help  them 
selves  to  what  they  wanted.  Our  brigade  relieved  the 
troops  in  the  works,  who  marched  to  the  rear  down  the 
Williamsburg  road,  and  in  a  short  time  we  followed  and 
Fair  Oaks  was  abandoned  to  the  rebel  pickets,  who  almost 
immediately  advanced  and  occupied  the  field. 

About  three  miles  from  Fair  Oaks  we  were  drawn  up 
in  line  of  battle,  connecting  with  SUMNER  upon  the  right, 
to  cover  the  passage  of  our  trains  across  White  Oak 
Swamp.  The  position  of  the  Second  Regiment  was  such 
that  we  had  a  view  of  the  railroad  in  the  direction  of  Fair 
Oaks  Station.  The  smoke  of  burning  camps  and  Quarter 
masters'  stores  hung  over  all  like  a  thick  pall,  but  it  was 
not  long  before  we  could  see  the  forms  of  the  rebels  cross 
ing  and  recrossing  the  railroad.  The  pioneers  cleared  a 
place  in  front  of  the  regiment,  upon  which  a  battery  was 
placed  in  a  position  to  rake  the  railroad.  We  lay  in  line 
full  two  hours  without  molestation,  when  the  rebels  sud 
denly  opened  a  battery  to  the  right  of  our  division,  one 
shot  from  which  struck  a  man  lying  upon  the  ground  asleep 
and  nearly  tore  his  arm  from  his  body.  One  of  our  bat 
teries  immediately  went  into  position  and  silenced  the 
rebel  guns.  Then  a  heavy  attack  was  made  upon  a  por 
tion  of  SUMNER' s  line,  and  for  a  short  time  the  infantry 
firing  was  brisk  until  the  rebels  were  handsomely  repulsed. 
The  object  of  the  halt  being  accomplished  the  long  line  of 
battle  melted  away  from  the  sight  of  the  rebels,  regiment 
after  regiment  filing  to  the  rear  and  marching  rapidly  down 


76  SECOXD    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

the  road  which  led  to  Poplar  Hill.  The  Second  Regiment 
and  the  Twenty -Sixth  Pennsylvania  made  a  blunder  which 
for  a  time  raised  serious  apprehensions  in  our  minds. 
The  leading  regiments  marched  so  rapidly  that  they  gained 
a  considerable  distance  upon  us,  and  at  length  coming  to 
a  place  where  two  roads  branched  off  the  preceding  regi 
ments  not  being  in  sight  we  were  obliged  to  guess  at 
which  one  to  take.  The  left  one  was  chosen,  and  we  had 
marched  rapidly  on  it  for  full  an  hour  when  we  became 
aware  that  we  were  on  the  wrong  track.  To  go  back  and 
take  the  right  road  was  out  of  the  question,  as  the  rebels 
were  doubtless  by  that  time  in  possession  of  the  fork,  so 
we  kept  on  with  all  possible  speed,  not  knowing  but  what 
we  were  marching  directly  into  the  rebel  lines  ;  but  at 
length  we  had  the  pleasure  of  coming  out  at  Poplar  Hill 
with  the  rest  of  the  brigade.  That  night  the  whole  army 
was  safely  across  White  Oak  Swamp  and  the  bridge  by 
which  it  had  crossed  White  Oak  Creek  torn  up  to  prevent 
pursuit. 

Monday  morning  the  line  of  our  army  was  formed  in  a 
huge  semi-circle,  extending  from  White  Oak  Swamp  to 
Charles  City  Cross  Roads,  or  Glendale.  *At  the  latter  place 
HOOKER'S  Division  lay  in  the  thick  woods  by  the  roadside, 
with  pickets  thrown  out  in  the  direction  of  Richmond* 
while  the  great  wagon  train  of  the  army  was  continually 
rumbling  by  towards  Harrison's  Landing.  During  the 
forenoon  the  right  of  the  line  was  actively  engaged  with 
the  rebels  across  White  Oak  Creek,  and  at  about  three 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  brisk  firing  commenced  on  the 
picket  line  to  our  front.  The  men  knew  instinctively  that 
a  battle  was  to  ensue  and  those  who  were  lying  upon  the 
ground  in  the  grateful  shade  of  the  forest  trees,  without 


THE    RETREAT   FROM   FAIR   OAKS.  77 

waiting  for  orders  rose  from  their  beds  of  moss  and  leaves 
and  prepared  for  action.  The  divisions  of  HILL  and 
LONGSTREET,  composing  the  attacking  force,  rushed  so 
furiously  upon  our  lines,  that  the  Pennsylvania  Reserves 
were  forced  from  the  rude  entrenchments  in  which  they 
were  stationed,  but  HOOKER  immediately  brought  his  di 
vision  into  action,  quickly  regaining  the  position  which 
had  been  lost  by  McCALL. 

The  Second  Regiment  was  detached  from  the  brigade 
for  awhile,  and  double-quicked  full  three-quarters  of  a 
mile  down  the  dusty  road  toward  the  right  of  the  position. 
We  formed  in  line  across  a  road  which  led  through  an  open 
pine  forest,  but  in  a  short  time  orders  came  for  us  to  re 
join  the  rest  of  the  division.  As  we  retraced  our  steps  the 
battle  was  at  its  height.  Forty  pieces  of  artillery,  sta 
tioned  in  the  field  to  our  right,  were  showering  their  deadly 
missiles  upon  the  woods  through  which  the  rebels  were 
advancing,  while  the  infantry  were  pouring  in  volley  upon 
volley  of  musketry.  As  we  reached  the  broad  lane  down 
which  the  division  had  marched  into  the  fight,  an  aide  of 
Gen.  HOOKER,  met  us,  who  swung  his  hat  aloft  and 
shouted  exultantly,  "  Gen.  HOOKER  has  whipped  the  en 
emy  handsomely ;  and  he  wants  you  to  join  the  division," 
upon  which  we  cheered  lustily  and  marched  with  lighter 
hearts  than  we  had  before  felt  since  leaving  Fair  Oaks,  to 
join  our  brave  comrades.  We  filed  in  the  field  and  formed 
our  line  to  the  rear  of  the  Massachusetts  Sixteenth,  which 
lay  behind  a  rail  fence  upon  the  brow  of  a  little  ridge 
facing  the  woods  through  which  the  rebels  had  advanced. 
The  rebels  once  repulsed,  soon  reformed  and  returned  to 
the  fight.  At  their  first  volley  Col.  WYMAN  of  the  Six 
teenth  fell  dead  from  his  horse,  and  several  of  the  regi- 


78  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

ment  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  regiment  rose  to  their 
feet  and  returned  one  scattering  volley ;  then  came  a  mo 
ment  of  that  halting  and  indecision  which  to  an  expe 
rienced  eye  is  evidence  that  a  line  is  about  to  give  way, 
and  the  Sixteenth  broke  and  rushed  to  the  rear,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  sturdy  heroes  who  stood  up  unflinch 
ingly  and  returned  the  rebel  fire.  The  Second  leaped  to 
their  feet  and  its  bayonets  formed  a  bristling  wall  which 
neither  friend  nor  foe  could  scale.  The  Sixteenth  boys 
soon  recovered  from  their  momentary  panic,  and  returned 
to  the  fence,  and  ever  after  they  were  ready  to  thank  us 
that  we  checked  them  when  they  would  have  tarnished 
their  proud  regimental  fame,  and  perhaps  brought  disaster 
to  the  Union  cause. 

The  rebels  were  again  repulsed,  whereupon  an  immedi 
ate  advance  was  made  by  the  brigade.  The  Twenty- 
Sixth  Pennsylvania,  upon  the  left  of  the  Sixteenth,  leaped 
the  fence,  and  charged  down  into  the  woods,  making  a 
"  right  half- wheel,"  which  spread  the  regiment  out  until  it 
looked  like  a  huge  fan ;  the  Sixteenth  and  Second  moved 
to  the  right  and  advanced.  The  First  Massachusetts  ran 
into  a  terrible  snare.  Two  rebel  regiments,  formed  like  a 
large  V,  with  the  open  part  towards  our  lines,  lay  concealed 
in  thick  underbrush,  into  which  the  First  unwittingly 
rushed.  Major  CHANDLER  and  scores  of  brave  men  fell 
before  the  fire  which  poured  in  upon  both  sides.  "  Get 
out  of  this  the  best  way  you  can,"  shouted  Gen.  Grover, 
not  standing  at  such  a  time  upon  military  forms,  and  the 
order  was  promptly  obeyed ;  but  it  was  a  sad  fragment  of 
the  gallant  regiment  which  emerged  from  the  fatal  snare. 

At  nightfall  we  were  moved  still  farther  to  the  right  in 
support  of  a  New  York  regiment.  The  Colonel  came  to 


THE    RETREAT    FROM    FAIR    OAKS.  79 

Col.  MARSTON  and  inquired  "  Colonel,  can  I  rely  upon 
your  regiment  to  stand  by  me  in  case  of  an  attack  ?" 
"Yes,  sir,"  exclaimed  MARSTON,  proudly,  "there  wont  a 
man  of  my  regiment  run  away,  sir;  not  a  man!"  "What 
regiment  is  yours  ?"  "  The  New  Hampshire  Second !" 
"Good!  I  have  heard  of  you  before;"  and  immediately 
afterwards  we  heard  him  exhorting  his  regiment  to  do  their 
duty,  telling  them  that  one  of  HOOKER'S  regiments  was 
supporting  them,  and  "a  bully  one,  too."  No  attack  was 
made  upon  our  lines  after  this,  although  shots  were  con 
stantly  exchanged  by  the  skirmishers.  A  regiment  of 
"Zouaves"  a  short  distance  to  our  right,  —  one  which  fig 
ured  largely  in  the  illustrated  papers  of  the  times,  —  re 
ceived  a  few  scattering  shots,  upon  which  they  broke  and 
ran  in  confusion.  Gen.  GROVER  and  other  officers  dashed 
in  among  them  and  managed  to  rally  a  portion,  who  were 
led  back  to  their  old  position. 

Night  came,  and  the  noise  of  battle  gradually  died 
away ;  the  firing  grew  less  frequent,  and  the  men,  lying 
in  line  of  battle,  hardly  uttered  a  word,  as  they  listened 
anxiously  for  the  sounds  which  should  herald  the  expected 
attack.  But  as  the  other  sounds  died  away,  the  most 
terrible  ones  a  soldier  can  hear,  those  best  calculated  to 
unnerve  him,  the  shrieks  and  groans  of  the  wounded  rose 
painfully  sharp  and  clear  upon  the  night  air.  Hundreds 
of  wounded,  nearly  all  rebels,  lay  between  the  two  lines, 
where  neither  friend  or  foe  could  help  them,  and  the  chorus 
of  agonized  cries  which  swelled  up  from  the  woods  was  a 
commentary  upon  the  cruelty  of  war  which  could  not  but 
appeal  to  the  hardest  of  hearts. 

Before  daybreak  of  the  next  morning  we  marched  from 
the  field  of  battle,  upon  which  we  had  not  been  able  to 


80  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

snatch  a  moment's  sleep,  and  with  the  utmost  haste 
pressed  on  toward  the  goal  of  our  desires,  the  James  river. 
It  was  but  little  after  sunrise  when  we  reached  Malvern 
Hill,  where  the  entire  army  was  placed  in  position  for  the 
last  great  battle  of  the  retreat.  Malvern  Hill,  though  very 
steep  and  precipitous  upon  the  north  and  west  sides,  ex 
tends  to  the  east  in  broad  swells,  over  which  the  divisions 
and  corps  of  the  great  army  marched  and  countermarched 
to  their  respective  positions,  forming  one  of  the  grandest 
military  pageants  ever  seen. 

The  enemy  was  close  upon  our  heels,  and  soon  his 
cavalry  and  skirmishers  appeared  upon  the  field  at  the 
point  where  we  had  entered  it.  We  watched  every  move 
ment  with  breathless  interest,  the  cavalry  riding  furiously 
from  one  point  to  another,  and  the  infantry  skirmishers 
deploying  along  the  edge  of  the  woods.  A  rebel  light 
battery  suddenly  went  into  position  a  few  hundred  yards 
distant,  and  saluted  us  with  its  iron  compliments.  The 
batteries  of  the  division  were  immediately  placed  in  posi 
tion,  and  such  a  shower  of  shot  and  shell  poured  among 
the  rebel  gunners  that  they  limbered  up  their  guns  and 
dashed  to  the  rear  with  the  utmost  dispatch,  the  drivers 
lashing  their  horses  furiously,  and  the  cannoniers  scatter 
ing  in  every  direction  to  escape  the  concentrated  fire  of 
HOOKER'S  batteries. 

The  position  of  HEI^TZELMAN'S  Corps  in  the  line  that 
day  was  the  left  centre.  No  sooner  was  the  line  estab 
lished  than  the  men  went  to  work  with  a  will  throwing 
up  breastworks.  The  Second  Regiment,  posted  in  a 
dense  wood,  was  soon  sheltered  by  a  bullet-proof  wall, 
built  of  the  decaying  trunks  and  limbs  of  trees  which 
were  scattered  about ;  and  so  secure  did  we  feel  behind 


THE    RETREAT   FROM    FAIR    OAKS.  81 

our  rude  breastwork,  so  confident  that  no  force  of  rebels 
whatever  could  drive  us  from  it,  that  the  crack  of  rebel 
rifles  in  our  immediate  front  would  have  been  the  most 
welcome  sounds  which  could  have  greeted  us.  Col.  MARS- 
TON  walked  down  the  line  inspecting  the  work  with  a  sat 
isfied  air,  accompanied  by  a  volunteer  surgeon,  whom  the 
pressing  want  of  medical  attendance  in  the  army  had 
called  temporarily  from  private  life.  The  fighting  had 
commenced  in  good  earnest  to  our  left,  and  the  men  of 
the  regiment,  expecting  every  moment  to  be  attacked, 
were  carefully  priming  their  pieces,  spreading  bunches  of 
cartridges  where  they  could  be  readily  seized  when  needed, 
filling  the  chinks  of  the  breastwork  with  sods  and  sticks, 
and  making  the  other  numberless  little  preparations 
which  should  insure  a  successful  defence  of  the  position. 
"Your  men  have  got  a  good  position,"  exclaimed  the  sur 
geon,  whose  eyes  "were  constantly  peering  into  the  depths 
of  the  woods  to  our  front.  "Yes;  my  boys  are  great  on 
entrenchments,"  replied  the  Colonel.  "Do  you  think 
you  will  be  attacked?"  "Well,  we  may  be;  they  are  at 
it  pretty  brisk  on  the  right."  "How  many  men  would  it 
take  to  drive  you  out  of  here?"  "How  many?  Well, 
six  thousand  might,  possibly,  but  five  thousand  would  get 
killed  doing  it."  The  pluck  of  the  boys  would  have 
made  good  the  Colonel's  words,  had  there  been  occasion 
to  display  it,  but  though  the  battle  raged  furiously  at 
other  parts  of  the  line,  we  were  not  disturbed. 

The  battle  of  Malvern  Hill  is  recorded  in  history  as  a 
series  of  the  bloodiest  repulses  ever  inflicted  upon  any 
army.  The  rebels,  maddened  by  the  whisky  which  had 
been  freely  dealt  out  to  them,  advanced  again  and  again 
to  break  the  Union  lines,  but  were  each  time  flung  back, 


82  SECOND   N.  H.  EEGIMENT. 

with  their  columns  crushed,  bleeding  and  disorganized. 
Three  hundred  pieces  of  artillery,  worked  by  as  good 
gunners  and  brave  as  ever  any  army  could  boast,  poured 
shell,  grape  and  case  -  shot  into  their  ranks  with  merciless 
profusion.  The  huge  siege  guns  which  had  been  brought 
along  with  the  army  were  posted  upon  the  crest  of  the 
hill,  to  the  rear  of  the  light  batteries,  while  the  gunboats 
upon  the  James  hurled  their  ponderous  eleven -inch  shells 
into  the  dense  masses  of  rebels  upon  the  left.  The  ground 
fairly  shook  beneath  this  terrible  cannonade,  which  has 
no  parallel  in  the  history  of  warfare.  Never  did  the 
world  witness  more  desperate  and  determined  efforts  than 
were  put  forth  by  the  rebels  to  gain  possession  of  Mal- 
vern  Hill ;  and  had  their  efforts  been  crowned  with  suc 
cess,  that  day  would  have  been  a  sad  one  in  American 
history.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  would  there  have 
ceased  to  exist  as  an  army,  for  it  would  have  been  driven 
into  the  James  or  forced  to  surrender ;  and  who  can  esti 
mate  the  disasters  to  the  Union  cause  which  would  have 
followed  the  loss  of  the  great  army  upon  which  the  loyal 
North  had  founded  so  many  hopes?  But  such  disasters 
were  averted  by  the  heroism  of  the  army  which,  though 
fearfully  outnumbered  and  retreating  before  an  exultant 
foe,  yet  turned  day  after  day  and  wrested  from  him  victo 
ries  which  will  ever  be  named  as  proud  monuments  of 
northern  valor  and  endurance. 

At  one  time  the  rebels  pressed  so  fiercely  upon  the 
lines  that  the  Excelsior  Brigade  was  withdrawn  from  our 
support  and  hurried  to  the  point  of  attack,  where  they 
arrived  in  season  to  give  a  good  account  of  themselves, 
making  a  splendid  bayonet  charge,  and  capturing  two 
pieces  of  artillery. 


THE  RETREAT  FROM  FAIR  OAKS.       83 

The  day  passed  with  the  alternate  periods  of  deafening 
uproar  which  attended  each  attack,  and  of  comparative 
quiet  which  followed  each  bloody  repulse,  and  until  late 
in  the  night  the  fiery  globes  circled  through  the  air;  but 
one  by  one  the  guns  ceased  to  Avork,  until  the  quiet  of 
utter  exhaustion  reigned  over  Malvern,  and  shrouded  the 
two  hostile  armies,  the  victors  and  the  vanquished. 


CHAPTEE     X. 


HABRISON    S       LANDING. 


HE  "change  of  base"  was  effected  on 
the  second  day  of  July,  the  day  after  the 
battle  of  Malvern  Hill.  A  heavy  rain 
set  in  which  soon  converted  the  roads 
into  beds  of  mud,  adding  much  to  the 
difficulty  of  moving  the  wagon  trains  and 
artillery,  and  especially  the  siege  train  of 
huge,  unwieldly  guns.  At  Harrison's 
Landing  nearly  the  whole  army  was  as 
sembled  upon  the  broad  fields  which 
bordered  the  river.  Where  the  road  en 
tered  the  plain,  aides  from  each  division  were  stationed  to 
direct  the  stragglers  to  their  respective  commands,  and  in 
many  regiments  this  class  composed  by  far  the  larger  por 
tion  of  the  men.  The  field,  under  the  tread  of  thousands 
of  feet,  was  converted  into  one  great  sheet  of  mud,  upon 
which  the  men  were  to  pitch  their  tents  and  make  them 
selves  as  comfortable  as  possible.  The  boughs  of  trees 
were  laid  in  the  mud  and  over  these,  bundles  of  grain  col- 


HARRISON'S  LANDING.  85 

lectcd  from  the  adjacent  fields  were  spread  by  the  men, 
that  they  might  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a  dry  and  comfortable 
bed  for  a  short  time  at  least. 

The  rebels  could  not  let  us  alone  even,  then  for  the  day 
after  our  arrival  they  opened  with  a  light  battery  and 
threw  several  shells  into  the  bivouac  of  our  division.  A 
force  was  immediately  sent  out  from  camp  which  came  up 
in  the  rear  of  the  obnoxious  battery  and  took  charge  of 
the  guns,  to  the  infinite  disgust  of  the  rebels. 

In  a  few  days  our  lines  were  established,  when  we  went 
to  work  with  a  will  to  fortify  the  position ;  and  it  was  not 
long  before  we  were  ready  to  bid  defiance  to  the  combined 
armies  of  the  Confederacy.  A  line  of  works  of  the  most 
elaborate  character  was  constructed,  from  which  hundreds 
of  pieces  of  artillery  commanded  every  avenue  of  ap 
proach  by  the  front,  and  the  gunboats  upon  the  James 
formed  an  equally  formidable  barrier  in  that  direction.  As 
soon  as  our  works  were  completed  we  were  allowed  a  pe 
riod  of  rest  to  prepare  ourselves  for  the  struggles  yet  to 
come.  Besides  an  occasional  review  or  tour  at  picket 
duty  there  was  little  to  be  performed,  and  the  time  was 
passed  in  erecting  bough  houses  to  screen  us  from  the 
blazing  sun,  in  visiting  the  various  points  of  interest 
within  our  lines,  or  in  bathing  in  a  large  mill-pond  near 
the  camp  of  the  brigade. 

The  antiquarians  found  plenty  to  interest  them.  The 
old  house  of  the  HARBISON  family,  in  Avhich  President 
HARRISON  was  born,  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  ob 
jects  within  the  lines,  and  \vas  used  as  the  headquarters  of 
the  Signal  Corps.  Nearer  the  river  stood  the  mansion  of 
the  lords  of  "  Westover,"  which  plantation  is  mentioned  as 
the  second  one  settled  in  Virginia.  The  house  was  built 


86  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

more  than  one  hundred  and  thirty  years  ago  by  Col.  WIL 
LIAM  BYRD,  and  was  a  most  expensive  affair,  being  built 
of  brick  brought  from  England.  One  mantle  -  shelf  is  re 
ported  to  have  cost  twenty -eight  hundred  dollars,  and  all 
the  other  appurtenances  were  in  keeping.  The  lawn,  ex 
tending  to  the  river  bank,  was  inclosed  by  a  brick  wall 
with  massive  iron  gates.  In  the  family  burial  -  ground  near 
the  house  the  lords  of  the  manor  were  sleeping,  with  long 
lists  of  titles  and  shining  virtues  carved  upon  the  crum 
bling  marble.  One  of  these  ancient  stones  recorded  the 
name  of  "  Capt.  WILLIAM  PERKY,"  a  companion  of  Capt. 
JOHN  SMITH.  Eight  miles  above  "  Westover"  wras  "  Shir 
ley,"  another  of  the  old  plantations  of  Virginia.  The 
buildings  made  of  English  brick  were  very  extensive,  and 
were  built  by  a  man  named  HILL,  whose  tombstone  re 
cords  that  he  died  in  1700. 

Nothing,  however,  amused  us  more  than  the  news  we 
received  of  our  movements  and  condition,  through  the 
medium  of  the  northern  papers,  and  the  stories  which 
were  freely  circulated  concerning  our  food,  deserve  partic 
ular  mention.  These  papers  represented  us  as  feasting 
upon  all  the  heart  could  desire,  esculent  vegetables  and 
the  best  quality  of  meat  and  bread,  when,  in  reality,  the 
meat  was  generally  the  worst  description  of  "  smoked 
sides,"  oily  and  unpalatable,  which  might  have  passed 
muster  in  the  rebel  army,  but  was  a  bitter  dose  to  the 
beef-  eating  Yankees ;  the  "  vegetables"  were  of  that  kind 
known  as  "desiccated  vegetables,"  a  villainous  compound, 
about  as  palatable  as  so  many  chips,  and  the  man  who 
invented  the  new  way  of  desiccating  vegetables  was  de 
servedly  unpopular  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 

Under  the  long  inaction  in  which  we  were  held  the  men 


HARRISON'S  LANDING.  87 

began  to  chafe  and  long  for  active  service  of  some  kind  to 
relieve  the  dull  monotony  of  camp  life.  Gen.  HOOKER 
seems  to  have  partaken  of  this  feeling,  for  he  devised  a 
plan  for  the  capture  of  Malvern  Hill,  then  held  by  a  rebel 
force  of  several  hundred  men,  with  artillery,  which  plan 
was  approved  by  Gen.  MCCLELLAN,  and  our  fighting  gen 
eral  ordered  to  carry  it  out.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
second  day  of  August  the  division  marched  from  the  en 
trenched  camp  to  execute  the  movement,  but  being  misled 
by  a  guide,  it  returned  the  same  night.  On  the  fourth, 
however,  we  again  set  out,  and  this  time  there  w^is  no 
misleading  or  taking  wrong  roads.  The  division  followed 
a  circuitous  route  which  led  to  Charles  City  Cross  Roads, 
the  scene  of  the  great  battle  on  the  thirtieth  of  June.  In 
light  marching  order,  and  with  the  cool  invigorating  night 
air  in  our  favor,  we  marched  rapidly,  passing  through  mile 
after  mile  of  pine  forest  and  Virginia  clearings,  and  it  was 
late  in  the  night  wrhen  wTe  approached  Charles  City  Cross 
Roads,  which  was  held  by  rebel  pickets.  As  the  success 
of  the  movement  depended  much  upon  its  secrecy,  the 
utmost  silence  was  enjoined  upon  the  men.  The  inhabit 
ants  along  the  line  of  our  march  had  all  been  placed 
under  guard,  that  they  might  not  carry  news  of  the  move 
ment  to  the  rebels,  and  in  the  bivouac  that  night  where 
thousands  of  men  lay  upon  their  arms  within  pistol  shot 
of  the  enemy's  pickets,  not  a  loud  or  incautious  word  was 
spoken,  by  which  the  rebels  might  gain  a  clue  to  the  move 
ment,  but  silently  the  men  munched  their  hardtack,  washed 
it  down  with  a  drink  of  water  from  their  canteens,  and 
stretched  themselves  upon  the  ground  with  their  trusty 
rifles  by  their  sides. 

With   the   first  beams   of  approaching   day  we    were 


88  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

roused  from  our  slumbers.  Col.  MAKSTON  busied  himself 
with  waking  the  sleepers,  giving  to  this  one  a  poke  with 
his  foot,  to  the  next  one  a  punch  in  the  ribs  with  his 
sword  scabbard,  and  so  on.  Coming  to  a  surly  fellow  who 
was  snoring  away  at  a  furious  rate  and  showing  no  signs 
of  waking,  he  gave  him  a  vigorous  punch  and  an  order  to 
rout  out.  The  sleeper  went  on  with  his  snoring  and 
gave  not  a  sign  of  obeying  orders,  when  the  colonel  gave 
him  a  still  rougher  poke,  upon  which  the  half -roused  man 
gave  his  tormentor  a  gruff  invitation  to  go  to  the  father 
of  iniquity,  adding  that  he  had  better  let  him  alone  for  he 
"didn't  belong  to  his  company."  "You  don't,  do  you! 
I'll  learn  you  whose  company  you  belong  to,  you  rascal," 
exclaimed  the  colonel,  and  he  gave  the  irate  soldier  a  few 
vigorous  blows  with  the  flat  of  his  sword,  which  brought 
him  -to  his  feet  instanter,  perfectly  satisfied  when  he  dis 
covered  that  it  was  "  OLD  GIL"  who  had  been  pounding 
him  instead  of  some  lieutenant  or  captain. 

The  regiment  of  cavalry  and  the  batteries  of  flying  ar 
tillery  which  accompanied  the  expedition  took  the  lead. 
The  rebel  pickets  at  the  Cross  Roads  fired  a  few  shots  and 
then  dashed  away,  while  our  column  turning  sharp  to  the 
left,  took  the  same  road  which  we  had  followed  on  the 
retreat  from  Glendale  to  Malvern  Hill.  Small  squads  of 
rebel  cavalry  hovered  about  the  flank  and  rear  of  the  col 
umn,  picking  up  the  stragglers,  although  sometimes  the 
stragglers  had  things  their  own  way,  as  was  the  case  with 
one  party  from  our  brigade  which  encountered  a  squad  of 
rebels  of  equal  numbers  and  forced  them  to  give  up  their 
arms,  dismount  and  trudge  afoot,  while  the  weary  victors 
took  their  places  in  the  saddle. 

A  number  of  rebel  pickets  were  captured  by  the  cav* 


HARRISON'S  LANDING.  89 

airy,  and  as  we  approached  Malvern  Hill  the  rebels  opened 
with  two  pieces  of  artillery.  This  battery  was  posted  by 
the  side  of  a  quaint  old  brick  house  which  during  the 
battle  of  Malvern  Hill  had  been  prominent  as  a  signal 
station.  Even  before  we  came  in  sight  of  the  rebel  gun 
ners  they  were  planting  their  shells  fairly  in  the  ranks  of 
the  division,  which  was  effected  by  means  of  a  lookout, 
who,  stationed  upon  the  top  of  the  house,  could  observe 
our  movements  and  direct  the  aim  of  the  gunners  beneath. 

Our  cavalry  was  massed  behind  a  thin  screen  of  pines 
when  we  arrived  upon  the  field,  but  the  batteries  were  in 
position  and  replying  to  the  rebel  fire  briskly  and  with 
splendid  accuracy  of  aim.  Gen.  HOOKER,  seated  upon 
his  favorite  white  horse,  and  surrounded  by  his  staff, 
coolly  directed  our  movements  from  beneath  the  shadow 
of  a  broad-spreading  wayside  tree.  Our  brigade  was 
quickly  formed  in  line  of  battle,  and  had  the  movements 
of  the  rest  of  the  division  been  executed  with  equal  ce 
lerity,  the  capture  of  the  entire  force  on  the  hill  would 
have  been  insured.  The  rebels  were  between  two  fires, 
the  gunboats  upon  the  James  opening  upon  them  with 
eleven -inch  shell  from  a  point  directly  opposite  our  posi 
tion.  Many  of  these  shell  not  exploding  at  the  proper 
moment  passed  harmlessly  by  the  rebels  and  came  howl 
ing  about  our  own  ears,  so  that  at  times  we  were  really 
in  greater  danger  from  our  friends  than  from  the  enemy. 
One  of  these  monster  bolts  struck  not  three  feet  from  one 
of  the  men  and  exploded  in  the  ground,  enveloping  the 
soldier  in  a  cloud  of  dust  and  smoke,  from  which  he 
emerged  terribly  frightened,  but  with  not  a  scratch  or  a 
bruise  resulting  from  the  affair. 

The  only  avenue  of  retreat  for  the  rebels  was  the  river 


90  SECOND    N.  II.  KEGIMENT. 

road  leading  north  toward  Richmond.  Gen.  PATTERSON 
was  ordered  with  the  Jersey  Brigade  to  take  possession  of 
this  road  and  thus  bag  the  rebels  upon  the  hill,  but  this 
general  —  the  truth  may  as  well  be  plainly  told  —  was,  on 
this  occasion  at  least,  too  drunk  to  attend  to  his  duties, 
and  failing  to  move  promptly  the  rebels  limbered  up  their 
guns  and  dashed  off  towards  Richmond  at  a  furious  pace. 
Thus  the  main  body  of  the  rebels  escaped,  and  we  cap 
tured  only  about  a  hundred  men.  When  it  became  evi 
dent  that  the  rebels  were  running,  we  immediately  ad 
vanced  and  occupied  the  hill,  the  mounted  officers  and 
orderlies  dashing  across  the  fields  after  the  scattered  squads 
of  gray -backs  whose  speed  was  not  sufficient  to  enable 
them  to  keep  up  with  their  comrades.  Lieut.  JOE  HUB- 
BARD,  then  aide  de  camp  for  Gen.  GROVER,  dashed  alone 
after  a  squad  of  five,  headed  them  off,  and  told  them  they 
might  as  well  go  back  with  him  for  they  could  not  escape. 
They  took  his  word  and  allowed  themselves  to  be  captured 
by  one  man.  Squads  of  rebel  pickets  kept  hurrying  in 
from  the  woods  and  were  somewhat  surprised  to  find  the 
hill  in  possession  of  the  "  Yanks,"  and  themselves  pris 
oners  to  their  hated  enemy.  Where  the  enemy's  battery 
had  been  posted  two  ghastly  rebels  lay  upon  the  ground, 
one  still  firmly  clasping  in  his  lifeless  hands  the  shell 
which  he  was  carrying  to  his  gun  when  he  fell. 

Our  cavalry  regiment  was  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  fleeing 
rebels,  and  followed  them  sharply  for  several  miles,  having 
a  few  skirmishes,  in  one  of  which  the  lieutenant  colonel 
in  command  was  mortally  wounded. 

This  movement,  though  a  failure  in  its  main  object,  the 
capture  of  the  rebel  force  upon  the  hill,  was  most  effectual 
in  arousing  to  activity  the  rebel  army  in  Richmond,  and 


HARBISON'S  LANDING.  91 

an  immense  force  was  dispatched  to  retake  the  position. 
On  the  sixth  we  were  reinforced  by  the  divisions  of  COUCH 
and  SEDGWICK,  and  as  the  rebel  force  was  in  our  imme 
diate  vicinity  a  smart  fight  was  anticipated,  and  our  pre 
parations  were  made  accordingly.  The  line  of  battle  was 
formed  in  the  most  favorable  position,  the  batteries  posted, 
and  houses  which  interfered  with  the  range  of  the  guns 
burned  to  the  ground;  but  after  occupying  the  hill  for 
two  days  orders  were  received  from  Gen.  McC-LELLAisr  to 
retire  to  our  entrenchments  at  Harrison's  Landing,  which 
movement  was  effected  on  the  morning  of  the  seventh,  so 
silently  that  the  rebel  pickets  knew  nothing  of  it  until  the 
morning  light  revealed  the  unoccupied  hill.  During  the 
night  the  Second  Regiment  was  formed  in  line  of  battle 
across  a  road  leading  to  the  hill,  extending  on  either  side 
into  a  dense  forest.  Not  a  picket  was  thrown  out,  but 
hour  after  hour  the  men  stood  in  line  so  silently  that  there 
was  hardly  a  sound  to  break  the  deep  quiet  of  that  Vir 
ginia  forest,  except  the  wild  call  of  the  whippowil  or  a 
momentary  rustle  occasioned  by  some  soldier  changing  the 
position  of  his  weary  limbs.  No  attack  was  made,  how 
ever,  and  long  before  morning  we  were  withdrawn  from 
the  position,  and  by  night  the  whole  force  was  again 
under  cover  of  the  entrenchments  at  Harrison's  Landing. 
With  the  inauguration  of  HALLECK  as  General-in- 
Chief  came  a  new  programme  of  operations  against  Rich 
mond,  the  approach  by  way  of  the  Peninsula  being  aban 
doned  and  Gen.  McG'LELLAN  ordered  to  join  his  army  to 
that  of  Gen.  POPE,  which  was  then  menacing  Richmond 
from  the  north.  In  pursuance  of  these  orders  Harrison's 
Landing  was  evacuated  on  the  sixteenth  day  of  August, 
the  knapsacks  of  the  men  and  the  heavy  material  of  the 


92  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

army  having  been  previously  sent  away  upon  transports 
down  the  James. 

The  march  down  the  Peninsula  occupied  five  days.  On 
the  twenty -first  the  regiment  embarked  on  the  "State  of 
Maine,"  and  the  following  day  the  little  fleet  bearing 
"JoE  HOOKER'S  fighting  division"  steamed  away  from 
under  the  guns  of  Yorktown  and  Gloucester,  out  upon  the 
billowy  Chesapeake. 

The  campaign  upon  the  Peninsula  wras  ended,  —  that 
campaign  which  had  begun  so  auspiciously  and  with  such 
promise,  and  which,  though  recorded  as  a  long  series  of 
victorious  sieges,  battles  and  skirmishes,  will  yet  present 
the  strange  contradiction  of  a  fruitless  and  even  disas 
trous  one.  Of  all  that  great  army  which  had  landed  so 
proudly  upon  the  "  sacred  soil"  none  had  won  a  more  glo 
rious  name  than  the  Division  of  JOE  HOOKER,  which, 
under  the  guidance  of  their  brave  leader,  had  ever  plunged 
bravely  into  the  shock  of  battle,  well  knowing  that  the 
clear  mind  of  a  true  soldier  guided  the  movement,  and 
one  who  loved  his  men  too  well  to  sacrifice  their  lives  in 
aimless  or  useless  conflicts. 

Let  no  prouder  record  be  left  for  it  than  the  words  of 
Gen.  HOOKER  himself:  "It  always  slept  upon  the  field 
where  it  fought.*' 


CHAPTER    XI. 


THE      SECOND     BULL     HUN     CAMPAIGN. 


URING  the  night  of  the  twenty -third  the 
division  arrived  at  Alexandria,  and  dis 
embarked  the  following  morning.  Late 
in  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty -fifth  we 
were  packed  upon  cattle  trains,  every 
available  space,  inside  and  out,  being 
covered,  and  whirled  away  over  the  Or 
ange  and  Alexandria  Railroad  to  rein 
force  Gen.  POPE.  We  arrived  at  Manas- 
sas  Junction  in  the  night.  Our  former 
pilgrimage  to  this  place  in  1861  having 
unfortunately  ended  several  miles  distant, 
we  felt  a  great  interest  in  the  locality,  and  strained  our 
eyes  to  discover  what  sort  of  a  place  it  might  be.  But 
all  we  could  make  out  in  the  darkness  was  the  general 
outline  of  the  immense  plain,  with  the  redoubts  built  by 
the  rebels  looming  up  dimly  against  the  background  of 
blue  sky.  The  train  stopped  a  few  minutes  at  the  Junc 
tion,  and  the  cavalry  guard  stationed  there  learning  that 


94  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

we  were  "  some  of  MCCLELLAN'S  men,"  surrounded  the 
cars  and  became  very  communicative.  The  very  name  of 
"OLD  STONEWALL"  we  found  was  a  terror  to  them,  and 
not  without  reason,  for  the  very  next  night  he  came  down 
with  a  swoop  like  a  hawk,  and  carried  away  the  whole 
crowd.  That  they  were  badly  demoralized  was  but  too 
evident,  and  the  men  who  had  been  trained  under  HOOKER 
to  fear  no  earthly  man  or  power,  laughed  scornfully  at 
their  terror,  and  told  them  that  they  had  brought  a  gen 
eral  or  two  up  from  the  Peninsula  to  show  OLD  STONE 
WALL  a  few  tricks  in  strategy  that  he  never  dreamed  of. 
Yet,  as  we  afterwards  learned  from  prisoners,  his  advance 
guard  was  even  then  concealed  by  the  side  of  the  railroad, 
where  they  might  easily  have  fired  into  the  train  had  it 
not  been  his  policy  to  conceal  their  proximity. 

At  midnight  we  arrived  at  Warrenton  Junction,  and 
the  next  day  we  went  into  camp  in  a  beautiful  position, 
near  Cedar  Creek.  Perhaps  the  beauty  of  the  place  was 
enhanced  in  the  eye  of  the  men  by  the  fact  that  the  con 
veniences  for  foraging  were  unlimited.  Large  fields  of 
green  corn  waved  in  the  breeze,  and  orchards  of  peach 
and  apple  trees,  and  in  a  stone  mill  not  far  from  camp 
was  stored  hundreds  of  bushels  of  wheat,  which  the  men 
ground  up  into  flour  as  fast  as  the  mill -stones  could  turn 
it  out. 

In  this  Virginian  paradise  we  were  assured  that  we 
should  probably  remain  for  several  days ;  but  alas  for  the 
frailty  of  human  hopes,  we  spent  just  one  night  in  our 
new  camp.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty -seventh 
we  were  roused  from  our  sweet  slumbers,  and  ordered  to 
be  in  readiness  to  march  at  five  o'clock.  The  occasional 
report  of  a  cannon  in  the  direction  of  Manassas  indicated 


SECOND   BULL    EUX.  95 

to  our  minds  that  there  was  trouble  in  the  rear,  and  the 
name  of  STONEWALL  JACKSON  was  naturally  coupled  with 
any  rebel  movement  in  that  direction.  And  sure  enough 
the  great  rebel  leader  was  there,  having  descended  through 
the  gaps  of  the  mountains  with  forty  thousand  men,  and 
captured  Manassas  Junction  with  its  garrison  and  the  im 
mense  train  of  valuable  material  accumulated  there.  But 
if  JACKSON  was  rapid  in  his  movement,  the  counter  move 
ments  to  check  and  punish  him  were  equally  prompt. 
The  various  corps  of  POPE'S  army  were  immediately  with 
drawn  from  the  line  of  the  Rapidan,  and  set  in  motion  to 
intercept  and  crush  JACKSON  in  case  he  might  attempt  to 
retreat  through  the  gaps  of  the  Blue  Ridge. 

Our  corps,  the  nearest  the  scene  of  action,  marched 
down  the  railroad  directly  for  Manassas  Junction.  At 
Catlett's  Station,  but  about  three  miles  from  where  we 
had  encamped,  the  first  evidences  of  the  raid  presented 
themselves  in  the  remains  of  several  wagons  which  had 
been  burned;  and  here  a  heavy  skirmish  line  was  thrown 
out  to  cover  the  advance  of  the  column,  companies  K  and 
B  being  detached  from  the  Second  Regiment  for  that  pur 
pose.  The  day  was  intensely  hot,  and  many  cases  of 
sunstroke  occurred,  yet  the  column  was  pushed  forward 
with  all  of  HOOKER'S  accustomed  energy.  At  various 
points  we  encountered  the  ruins  of  bridges  and  culverts, 
and  at  length,  as  we  emerged  from,  the  woods  into  a  broad 
field,  a  rebel  battery  was  discovered  in  position  upon  the 
other  side.  The  line  of  battle  was  immediately  formed, 
with  GROVER'S  Brigade  upon  the  right  of  the  railroad, 
but  when  we  advanced  the  rebel  battery  disappeared  in 
the  direction  of  Manassas,  without  firing  a  shot. 

About  two  miles  further  on,  ho^vever,  we  came  upon  a 


96  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

portion  of  JACKSON'S  force  drawn  up  in  line  of  battle  at 
Kettle  Run,  near  a  point  upon  the  railroad  known  as 
Bristow  Station.  Our  two  skirmish  companies  nearly 
ran  into  the  rebel  line,  concealed  in  a  dense  growth  of 
little  pines,  before  they  discovered  it.  In  fact,  Company 
B  would  inevitably  have  been  taken  prisoners  or  slaugh 
tered  en  masse  had  not  the  orderly  sergeant  of  Company 
K  seen  the  danger  just  in  season  to  prevent  such  a  catas 
trophe.  Our  main  column  was  at  this  time  concealed 
from  the  sight  of  the  rebels  by  a  screen  of  pine  trees,  and 
although  our  skirmish  line  was  permitted  to  withdraw 
without  firing  a  shot,  they  opened  briskly  with  a  battery, 
bursting  their  shells  directly  over  our  heads.  One  of  our 
batteries  was  pushed  along  by  the  side  of  the  railroad 
through  the  woods,  and  was  soon  working  briskly,  sup 
ported  by  portions  of  the  Jersey  and  Excelsior  Brigades. 

During  the  height  of  the  engagement  the  rebels  at 
tempted  a  charge,  and  came  rushing  down  upon  our  brave 
men  with  a  yell  which  was  expected  to  intimidate  and  put 
to  flight ;  but  the  men  opposed  to  them  had  heard  that 
same  yell  too  often  to  feel  the  tremor  of  fear,  and  with 
shouts  as  loud  and  as  fierce  they  dashed  forward  to  meet 
the  rebels.  This  was  more  than  the  gray -backs  had  bar 
gained  for  or  expected,  and  the  grand  rebel  charge  sud 
denly  ended  in  an  "  about  face,"  executed  with  amazing 
celerity,  and  a  display  of  ragged  coat  -  tails  which  would 
have  excited  the  envy  of  any  Chatham-street  dealer  in 
"old  clo'." 

The  rebel  force  now  made  for  Manassas  with  all  possi 
ble  speed,  and  though  HOOKER  had  no  cavalry  to  harass 
them  he  pushed  his  infantry  rapidly  forward  in  pursuit. 
Our  brigade  marched  across  the  battle  field,  thickly  scat- 


SECOND    BULL   HUN.  97 

tered  with  the  bodies  of  the  slain,  and  through  the  camps 
of  the  rebels,  which  they  had  been  obliged  to  leave  so 
unexpectedly  that  their  beef  still  lay  in  the  same  places 
where  the  cattle  had  been  slaughtered,  their  food  was  yet 
cooking  over  the  camp  fires,  and  kettles  and  other  camp 
equipage  were  scattered  about  just  as  they  had  left  them 
when  called  to  take  their  places  in  the  line  of  battle.  The 
rebels  for  a  time  kept  up  a  sharp  fire  upon  the  brigade 
from  a  light  battery,  which,  however,  was  limbered  up 
and  drawn  away  as  fast  as  we  came  too  close  for  the  safety 
of  the  guns. 

The  division  at  nightfall  halted  within  about  a  mile  of 
Manassas  Junction,  and  that  night  men  who  at  the  front 
performed  picket  duty,  beheld  in  the  eastern  sky  the  light 
of  burning  trains  and  stores  which  JACKSON  was  destroy 
ing,  preparatory  to  an  evacuation  of  the  place. 

The  next  morning  the  division  of  Gen.  RENO  came  up, 
and  after  a  short  halt  to  rest  from  its  forced  march, 
during  which  the  general  advanced  to  the  picket  line 
and  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  position  of  affairs, 
it  continued  on  towards  Manassas,  which  was  found  aban 
doned,  JACKSON  having  moved  in  the  direction  of  Centre- 
ville  three  hours  before. 

In  the  afternoon  HOOKER'S  Division  also  advanced, 
passing  through  the  Junction,  and  going  into  bivouac  late 
in  the  night  at  Blackburn's  Ford,  on  Bull  Run  Creek, 
abvut  midway  between  Manassas  Junction  and  Centreville, 

The  following  morning,  the  twenty  -  ninth  of  July,  was 
ushered  in  by  the  booming  of  cannon  far  away  to  the 
northwest,  indicating  that  JACKSON  had  encountered  some 
portion  of  our  force  in  that  direction.  We  were  soon  in 
motion,  rapidly  following  the  broad  ridge  of  land  which 


98  SECOND   N.  II.    REGIMENT. 

terminates  at  Centreville  in  the  celebrated  Ccntrcville 
Heights.  From  that  point,  commanding  a  view  of  the 
whole  country  as  far  as  the  Blue  Ridge,  we  could  see  the 
smoke  of  battle  ascending  above  the  tree  -  tops  many  miles 
away,  while  long  lines  of  white  dust  showed  where  the 
various  divisions  of  the  army  were  centering  in  upon  the 
rebel  lion  at  bay. 

We  took  the  same  road  McDowELL  had  advanced  on 
thirteen  months  before,  but  arriving  at  the  point  where 
HUNTER  had  made  his  detour  to  the  right  we  continued 
straight  forward  upon  the  road  the  left  column  had  taken 
on  that  occasion.  The  reports  of  artillery  greeted  our 
ears  at  intervals,  and  as  we  drew  near  the  scene  of  action 
scattered  volleys  of  musketry  became  audible.  About 
a  mile  from  the  battle  field  we  met  several  hundred  of  our 
men  unarmed  and  marching  to  the  rear.  These  were 
JACKSON'S  prisoners,  whom  he  had  paroled  and  sent  into 
our  lines  as  soon  as  it  became  evident  that  he  had  got  to 
fight,  well  knowing  that  every  one  of  his  men  would  be 
needed  in  beating  back  the  Union  legions  pouring  down 
upon  him. 

It  was  not  far  from  noon  when  we  reached  the  field, 
Gen.  HEINTZELMAN,  surrounded  by  his  staff,  sat  upon  his 
horse  by  the  side  of  the  road,  pointing  out  to  a  general 
officer  the  position  of  the  troops  engaged.  "There,"  he 
exclaimed,  pointing  with  his  finger  to  the  right,  "is 
KEARNEY'S  line,  extending  from  that  house  to  where  you 
see  that  gun  flash."  Our  brigade  was  assigned  for  the 
day  to  Gen.  SIGEL,  who  was  engaging  the  enemy  in  the 
centre,  and  we  marched  rapidly  down  the  road  to  our  po 
sition.  The  scene  was  familiar  to  most  of  the  men  in  the 
regiment,  for  we  were  upon  the  old  Bull  Run  battle  field. 


SECOND   BULL   RUX.  99 

Looking  up  the  hill  to  the  right  we  saw  the  field  where 
the  regiment  had  received  its  first  baptism  of  fire,  and  to 
the  left  the  hill  where  the  rebel  battery  had  stood  which 
first  opened  upon  us  on  that  memorable  twenty -first  of 
July.  We  crossed  the  road  down  which  we  had  advanced 
to  make  our  last  fight  in  that  ill-starred  action,  and  the 
men  pointed  out  the  very  spots  where  friends  and  com 
rades  had  fallen,  and  looked  anxiously  to  see  if  there 
might  not  be  a  mound  of  earth  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
to  indicate  the  burial  places  of  the  martyred  heroes.  The 
buildings  which  had  been  used  as  hospitals  were  still 
standing,  and  stacks  of  grain  which  had  served  as  shelter 
for  the  sharpshooters ;  the  sun  shone  just  as  bright  and 
clear  as  on  that  day,  and  all  the  surroundings  brought  it 
most  vividly  to  mind.  After  months  of  danger  and  hard 
ship  passed  through  in  safety,  the  inscrutable  mysteries  of 
war  had  brought  us  back  to  the  scene  of  our  first  conflict, 
there  to  make  a  still  further  donation  of  precious  lives  to 
the  cause  we  had  sworn  to  maintain  —  the  lives  of  men 
who  had  rejoiced  over  their  own  escape  from  the  dangers 
of  that  former  fight  while  lamenting  the  loss  of  comrades 
who  had  fallen,  but  whose  forms  now  moulder  by  the  side 
of  the  friends  they  so  truly  mourned. 

The  brigade  was  massed  not  far  from  the  little  village 
of  Groveton,  near  the  woods  in  which  the  rebel  lines  were 
formed  awaiting  an  attack.  A  scattering  fire  of  musketry 
was  heard  in  the  woods  to  our  front,  and  occasionally  a 
smart  volley,  accompanied  by  the  cheers  of  a  charge.  The 
rebel  batteries,  posted  on  a  hill  to  the  rear  of  their  infantry 
lines,  threw  a  shell  over  our  heads  just  often  enough  to 
let  us  know  that,  they  were  aware  of  our  presence.  One 
of  our  batteries  attempted  to  go  into  position  near  the 


100  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

brigade,  but  the  rebel  guns  poured  in  such  a  fire  of  shell 
at  short  range  that  they  were  glad  to  get  out  of  the  way 
as  soon  as  possible. 

We  remained  in  this  position  fully  two  hours,  when  or 
ders  were  received  from  Gen.  SIGEL  to  advance  into  the 
woods  and  charge  the  rebels.  To  hear  was  to  obey,  and 
the  line  was  formed  silently  in  the  open  field  at  the  edge 
of  the  woods,  the  First  Massachusetts  upon  the  right,  the 
Eleventh  upon  the  left,  and  the  flag  of  the  Old  Second 
floated  in  the  centre.  The  Sixteenth  Massachusetts  and 
Twenty -sixth  Pennsylvania  formed  a  second  line,  and 
beside  these  two  regiments  the  three  assaulting  regiments 
were  entirely  without  reserve ;  three  small  regiments, 
numbering  not  more  than  a  thousand  men,  to  charge  un 
supported  upon  the  entire  corps  of  EWELL,  in  a  chosen 
position,  and  formed  in  a  triple  line  of  battle !  Yet  the 
gallant  brigade  was  never  in  better  spirits  for  the  fight, 
and  never  made  a  more  gallant  one  than  on  this  occasion. 

There  was  for  a  moment  an  earnest  consultation  be 
tween  Gen.  GROVER,  his  colonels,  and  an  officer  who  was 
acquainted  with  the  lay  of  the  land  and  the  position  of  the 
rebels.  "They  are  behind  a  railroad  bank,  and  the  only 
way  you  can  dislodge  them  is  to  charge,"  we  heard  the 
officer  tell  GROVER,  and  well  we  knew  that  a  few  minutes 
would  precipitate  us  into  a  fight  such  as  we  had  hardly 
ever  seen. 

Col.  MARSTON  came  to  the  regiment  and  quietly  gave 
the  order,  "  Fix  bayonets !"  A  cloud  was  on  his  brow, 
for  he  fully  realized  the  position  we  were  to  advance  upon, 
and  his  heart  was  sad  in  contemplating  the  useless  slaugh 
ter  of  his  brave  boys  which  must  ensue. 

Gen.    GROVER,     still    maintaining    his    imperturbable 


SECOND    BULL    RUN.  101 

smile,  uttered  a  few  words,  and  to  the  point:  "Don't 
waste  a  shot,  my  men — let  every  bullet  tell."  Then 
came  the  magical  word,  "  Forward,"  and  the  men  ad 
vanced  into  the  woods,  to  honor,  to  glory,  and  many,  too 
many,  to  the  grave.  No  sound  was  heard  but  the  crash 
ing  of  the  underbrush,  or  the  muttered  orders  to  "  Give 
way  to  the  right,"  or  "to  the  left."  The  left  of  the  line 
soon  encountered  an  open  field,  where  a  halt  was  ordered, 
and  Gen.  GROVER  stepped  forward  to  reconnoitre.  Sev 
eral  Union  soldiers,  dead  and  wounded,  lay  about  in  the 
bushes,  and  a  dozen  bullets  whistled  about  the  general. 
The  line  was  moved  further  to  the  right,  and  then  again 
came  the  order,  "  Forward." 

The  moment  was  now  close  at  hand  which  might  usher 
any  of  us  into  eternity,  and  well  we  knew  that  the  lives 
of  many  were  numbered  by  minutes  or  even  seconds. 
Yet  not  a  man  was  there  who  flinched  in  that  dreadful 
moment,  for  all  so  inclined  had  as  usual  been  suddenly 
taken  sick  when  the  first  sounds  of  conflict  were  heard, 
and  were  then  lurking  in  the  rear,  ready  to  recover  when 
ever  the  battle  should  be  decided. 

Suddenly  the  deafening  roar  of  thousands  of  muskets 
broke  the  stillness  of  the  woods,  and  a  shower  of  bullets 
tore  through  the  air.  "  Charge !"  shouted  GROVER,  at 
the  top  of  his  voice,  and  with  a  loud,  ringing  New  Eng 
land  yell,  we  dashed  forward,  every  man  for  himself.  In 
a  moment  the  Second  had  swept  over  the  railroad  upon 
the  first  line  of  rebels.  This  line  was  taken  at  a  disad 
vantage,  for  most  of  the  men,  loth  to  expose  themselves 
above  their  breastwork,  had  delivered  their  volley  from 
the  ground,  and  were  still  in  a  prostrate  condition  when 
we  leaped  into  their  midst.  Some  few  of  the  bravest 


102  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

attempted  resistance,  but  the  bullet  or  the  bayonet  did  its 
work  quickly  with  such  ;  some  threw  up  their  hands,  beg 
ging  for  mercy,  and  were  either  taken  to  the  rear  or  left 
lying  upon  the  ground,  while  those  of  the  Second  who 
remained  uninjured,  wild  with  excitement,  dashed  after 
those  who  were  running  for  their  second  line.  Suddenly 
right  in  our  faces  burst  a  sheet  of  flame,  and  the  second 
line  rose  from  the  bushes  to  receive  us.  But  almost 
before  they  could  realize  it,  our  fearfully  diminished  and 
disorganized  regiment  was  upon  them  and  in  their  very 
midst.  For  a  moment  there  was  a  desperate  struggle 
between  the  fiery  Georgian  regiment  we  encountered  and 
the  sturdy  Granite  State  boys.  The  dull  "thug"  of  the 
bayonets  as  they  were  buried  in  quivering  flesh,  the  sharp 
crack  of  rifles  and  revolvers,  the  whistle  of  bullets,  the 
fierce  shouts  of  hatred  and  the  moans  of  the  wounded, 
ascended  together  from  that  scene  of  deadly  conflict.  But 
northern  pluck  was  bound  to  win,  and  soon  the  second 
rebel  line  was  scattered  and  put  to  flight.  Scores  of  our 
men  had  by  this  time  been  placed  hors  de  combat,  and  no 
semblance  of  formation  as  a  regiment  remained,  but  with 
unloaded  pieces  the  men  dashed  after  the  flying  rebels. 

EWELL,  the  rebel  leader,  had  been  carried  to  the  rear 
with  a  shattered  leg,  two  of  his  lines  had  been  broken  be 
fore  our  fierce  onset,  and  victory  was  apparently  within 
our  grasp ;  but  another  line  was  yet  to  be  encountered, 
the  last  one,  against  which  it  might  have  seemed  madness 
for  our  scattered  squads  to  throw  themselves.  But  with 
out  counting  the  fearful  odds  in  numbers  to  be  encoun 
tered,  we  closed  in  upon  this  last  obstacle  between  us  and 
victory;  and  even  that  line  showed  signs  of  breaking, 
having  doubtless  been  somewhat  demoralized  by  the  quick 


SECOND   BULL   KUN.  103 

and  unceremonious  manner  with  which  we  had  disposed 
of  the  two  lines  in  their  front.  But  our  charge  was  sud 
denly  checked  at  the  very  moment  when  it  seemed  about 
to  be  crowned  with  complete  success.  Our  headlong  rush 
had  carried  us  much  farther  than  either  the  First  or  the 
Eleventh  had  penetrated,  and  thus  while  we  had  hewed  a 
deep  notch  into  the  rebel  position,  the  second  line  at  least 
upon  either  flank  was  left  intact,  in  a  position  to  close  in 
upon  our  flanks  and  rear.  This  was  what  the  rebels  did. 
A  sharp  volley  greeted  us  from  the  right,  which  we  had 
no  sooner  returned  than  another  came  from  the  left.  We 
had  hardly  men  enough  to  form  a  respectable  skirmish 
line,  and  with  rebels  swarming  upon  three  sides  it  was 
useless  to  longer  maintain  the  fight ;  so  we  turned  and 
fled  towards  the  railroad,  barely  escaping  capture,  and 
leaving  many  of  our  wounded  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
among  others  the  brave  Captain  JOSHUA  F.  LITTLEFIELD 
of  Company  B,  who,  with  several  severe  wounds  upon 
his  body,  lay  exposed  upon  the  field  for  many  days,  and 
finally  died.  First  Sergeant  FRANK  O.  ROBINSON,  of 
Company  C,  shot  through  the  bowels,  was  also  left  behind, 
dying.  "I  might  have  brought  him  out,"  said  Captain 
CARR,  of  the  same  company,  "but  he  was  dying  —  is 
dead  by  this  time ;  so  I  helped  out  one  of  my  men  who 
was  not  so  badly  wounded  but  that  he  has  a  chance  to 
recover."  Just  after  crossing  the  railroad,  the  writer 
encountered  Lieutenant  SYLVESTER  ROGERS,  of  Company 
G,  with  one  wound  through  his  leg,  near  the  knee,  and 
another  in  the  small  of  his  back,  from  which  the  blood 
was  pouring  in  a  torrent.  One  of  the  men  from  his  own 
company,,  with  an  arm  around  him,  was  endeavoring  to 
urge  him  forward,  and  with  the  writer's  assistance  he  was 


104  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

carried  several  rods,  when  in  answer  to  our  words  of 
encouragement,  "  Cheer  up,  ROGERS,  we  will  carry  you 
safely  out  of  this,"  he  uttered  a  faint  moan,  gasped,  his 
head  fell  forward  upon  his  breast,  —  he  was  dead!  We 
laid  his  lifeless  form  upon  the  ground,  and  left  it  where 
rebel  bullets  were  singing  the  patriot  officer's  requiem. 

The  rebel  artillery,  which  had  remained  silent  while 
the  opposing  forces  were  mingled  together,  now  opened 
fire,  and  vigorously  shelled  the  woods  through  which  we 
were  retreating  ;  but  so  scattered  were  our  men  that  no 
damage  was  done,  except  to  the  tree  tops  through  which 
the  missiles  screamed  and  crashed. 

Shattered  and  bleeding  the  brigade  emerged  into  the 
field  where  the  line  had  formed  for  the  charge.  Here 
the  flight  ended,  the  men  rallying  around  the  colors  of 
their  respective  regiments  with  shouts  which  showed  how 
little  daunted  they  were  by  the  ordeal  through  which  they 
had  passed.  A  line  was  hastily  formed  in  the  open  field, 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  edge  of  the  woods, 
where  the  men,  lying  behind  the  shelter  of  a  slight  ridge 
of  land,  awaited  the  attack  which  GHOVER,  with  a  true 
soldier's  intuitive  foresight,  knew  might  be  expected. 

The  brigade  in  which  was  the  Sixth  New  Hampshire 
Regiment  arrived  at  this  time,  and  disappeared  in  the 
woods  just  to  the  right  of  where  we  had  entered.  We 
heard  a  roll  of  musketry,  lasting  but  a  few  moments,  and 
then  the  scattered  squads  came  pouring  back  into  the 
field,  the  brigade  not  having  been  able  to  penetrate  even 
BO  far  as  the  railroad. 

This  repulse  was  followed  up  by  an  immediate  advance 
on  the  part  of  the  rebels,  although  the  officers  of  the 
regiments  which  encountered  our  brigade  in  its  furious 


SECOND   BULL   RUN.  105 

charge  were  obliged  in  many  cases  to  drive  their  men 
forward  with  their  swords,  they  not  relishing  the  rough 
manner  in  which  HOOKER'S  men  had  handled  them  in  the 
former  encounter. 

The  rebel  line  appeared  in  the  edge  of  the  woods,  and 
the  fight  was  renewed  by  a  well  -  directed  volley  which 
we  delivered  into  their  dense  ranks.  There  was  sharp 
work  for  a  few  minutes,  but  what  could  the  bravery  of 
our  decimated  brigade  avail  against  the  overwhelming 
numbers  opposed  to  it?  Officers  and  men  were  falling 
upon  either  hand,  and  we  commenced  to  fall  back  toward 
the  hill  upon  which  our  batteries  were  posted  under  the 
direction  of  HOOKER.  Exultant  yells  arose  from  the 
rebel  lines,  which,  however,  were  of  short  duration,  for 
one  of  our  batteries  came  tearing  down  the  hill,  went 
into  position,  and  hurled  round  after  round  of  deadly  can 
ister  into  the  rebel  ranks,  which  created  such  slaughter 
that  they  disappeared  as  suddenly  as  if  the  ground  had 
opened  and  swallowed  them  into  its  depths. 

During  this  affair  many  of  our  best  men  fell,  among 
the  bravest  of  whom  was  Lieut.  NORTON  R.  MOORE,  of 
Company  F,  who  for  his  daring  at  Fair  Oaks  on  the 
twenty -fifth  of  June  had  been  promoted  from  the  rank  of 
sergeant  major,  and  whose  hand  at  the  time  of  his  death 
bore  the  unhealed  wound  he  had  received  on  that  oc 
casion. 

The  remnants  of  the  brigade  were  now  collected  to 
gether  beneath  a  little  clump  of  trees  by  the  side  of  Bull 
Run  Creek,  and  the  rolls  called  that  we  might  estimate 
the  loss  we  had  sustained.  The  Second  Regiment  went 
into  that  fight  with  three  hundred  and  thirty -two  men, 
and  of  these  sixteen  were  reported  killed,  eighty -seven 

5 


106  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

wounded,  and  twenty -nine  missing.  Of  those  reported 
missing,  the  greater  part  have  never  been  heard  from. 
Shot  down  in  the  dense  woods  through  which  we  had 
charged  they  had  fallen  and  died  unobserved  by  any  of 
their  comrades ;  and  the  only  record  which  can  ever  be 
made  of  their  fate  is,  that  they  were  "missing  in  action." 

Twenty  -  one  commissioned  officers  went  into  the  fight 
with  the  Second,  and  of  these  ten  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Lieutenants  ROGERS  and  MOORE  were  killed,  and  Captain 
LITTLEFIELD  was  mortally  wounded ;  Lieutenant  HOL- 
MAN  received  a  terrible  wound  in  the  thigh,  which  inca 
pacitated  him  from  ever  performing  duty  in  the  field; 
Lieutenant  COOPER,  shot  through  the  right  lung,  was  at 
first  reported  mortally  wounded,  but  finally  recovered ; 
and  Lieutenants  BALLARD,  ROBERTS,  STEELE,  YOUNG 
and  GORDON  were  all  slightly  wounded. 

The  habitual  smile  for  once  vanished  from  GROVER'S 
face.  MARSTON  could  hardly  restrain  the  tears  when  he 
visited  the  hospital  where  so  many  of  his  men  were  lying 
mutilated  and  bleeding ;  and  HOOKER,  when  he  saw  the 
fate  of  his  old  brigade,  murmured  sadly,  "Too  bad!  too 
bad !  My  brave  men !" 

That  night  our  entire  division  slept  just  to  the  rear  of 
our  line  of  batteries,  upon  the  identical  spot  where  the 
Second  Regiment  had  formed  its  first  line  of  battle  in  the 
fight  of  1861.  Our  batteries  were  exchanging  shots  with 
the  rebel  guns  until  late  into  the  evening,  when  darkness 
closed  the  first  day's  work  of  the  Second  Bull  Run  Battle. 

The  forenoon  of  the  thirtieth  passed  very  quietly,  but 
about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  the  battle  was  renewed, 
upon  the  ridge  to  the  south,  where  MCDOWELL'S  Corps 
was  formed  in  line  of  battle.  LEE,  descending  through 


SECOND   BULL   RUN.  107 

the  gaps  in  the  Blue  Ridge,  had  arrived  upon  the  field 
with  his  entire  army,  and  was  directing  his  battalions 
against  this  portion  of  our  line.  A  long  line  of  forest, 
which  we  could  see  in  the  distance,  screened  the  move 
ments  of  his  troops  from  our  observation,  while  the  whole 
extent  and  formation  of  MCDOWELL'S  line  could  be  easily 
observed  from  elevated  points  within  his  lines.  A  few 
shells  from  a  rebel  battery,  which  suddenly  appeared  in 
the  edge  of  these  woods,  created  an  immense  commotion 
among  MCDOWELL'S  men,  and  they  streamed  to  the  rear 
in  numbers  which  suggested  to  our  minds  either  that  there 
must  have  been  an  extraordinary  proportion  of  camp  fol 
lowers,  cooks,  waiters  and  other  non-combatants,  or 
that  those  whose  business  it  was  to  do  the  fighting  were 
deserting  their  posts  upon  the  approach  of  danger. 
McDowELL,  ever  unfortunate,  did  not  possess  the  confi 
dence  of  his  men,  and  hundreds  and  thousands  deserted 
their  posts  without  a  show  of  fighting,  most  of  them  only 
too  glad  to  excuse  their  shameful  cowardice  by  declaring 
that  it  was  of  no  use  to  fight  where  McDowELL  led,  for 
the  day  was  sure  to  go  against  them.  So  much  the  more 
credit  to  those  who  stood  and  maintained  the  battle 
bravely,  even  though  they  may  not  have  had  the  fullest 
confidence  in  the  abilities  of  their  general. 

By  four  o'clock  the  engagement  had  extended  along  the 
whole  line,  and  the  thunder  of  battle  shook  the  earth. 
HOOKER'S  division  watched  the  progress  of  the  conflict 
with  intense  interest.  Regiment  after  regiment  marched 
up  the  slope  to  reinforce  the  battling  line,  with  ranks 
splendidly  formed,  bayonets  glistening  in  the  sun,  and 
banners  floating  proudly  on  the  summer  air.  The  Old 
Flag  was  gallantly  sustained,  and  at  times  our  hopes  were 


108  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

bright  that  the  results  of  the  battle  might  be  a  brilliant 
victory.  Officers  mentioned  the  names  of  PORTER,  SUM- 
NER  and  FRANKLIN,  and  spoke  of  the  thousands  of  men 
they  would  shortly  bring  into  the  fight ;  but  most  of  these 
troops  were  nearer  Washington  than  the  battle  field,  and 
PORTER,  upon  whom  more  depended  than  upon  almost 
any  other  man,  was  committing  that  unpardonable  crime 
which  his  friends  can  neither  excuse  nor  palliate. 

Suddenly  the  orders  rang  out  for  our  division  to  "fall 
in,"  for  the  rebels  were  advancing  upon  our  immediate 
front  from  a  point  near  the  village  of  Groveton.  Our 
batteries  rapidly  replied  to  a  rebel  battery  which  opened 
upon  them,  and  the  division  hastened  forward  to  repel  the 
threatened  attack,  which  proved  to  have  been  only  a  feint, 
as  the  rebel  force  quickly  disappeared  back  into  the  woods 
from  which  it  had  emerged. 

This  affair  was  hardly  over  before  an  aide  of  Gen. 
HOOKER  dashed  up  with  orders  for  the  entire  division  to 
report  upon  "the  other  hill"  immediately.  Batteries 
were  limbered  up  in  a  hurry,  and  we  moved  rapidly  in 
the  direction  indicated. 

In  the  movements  of  the  troops  we  could  now  read  the 
sad  fact  that  the  day  was  against  us,  —  that  POPE,  de 
serted  by  those  upon  whom  he  had  too  implicitly  relied, 
was  withdrawing  his  forces  rapidly  from  the  unequal  fight. 
Moving  from  one  point  to  another  the  brigade  formed 
several  lines  of  battle,  and,  as  a  curious  coincidence,  it 
may  be  mentioned  that  the  last  line  formed  by  the  Sec 
ond  Regiment  in  this  fight  was  upon  the  identical  spot 
where  in  the  first  battle  of  Bull  Run  it  had  paid  its  fare 
well  compliments  to  the  enemy,  in  the  deep  -  gullied  road 
where  Companies  B  and  I  had  maintained  themselves 


SECOND   BULL   RUN.  109 

until  forced  from  their  position  by  JOHNSTON'S  arrival 
upon  the  field. 

That  night  the  army  fell  back  to  Centreville.  We 
forded  Bull  Run  Creek  where  the  water  was  waist  deep, 
and  traveled  rapidly  in  this  second  retreat  from  the  ill- 
fated  battle  ground;  but  although  the  road  was  crowded 
with  troops,  with  wagons  and  batteries  of  artillery,  all 
pressing  forward  as  fast  as  possible,  there  was  but  little 
confusion,  and  not  a  sign  of  the  panic  which  had  ani 
mated  the  former  retreat. 

The  army  occupied  the  old  rebel  works  upon  Centre 
ville  Heights  and  invited  an  attack,  which  the  rebels  were 
wise  enough  to  decline.  But  on  the  first  day  of  October 
they  attempted  to  get  possession  of  the  road  between 
Centreville  and  Fairfax  Court  House,  and  the  divisions  of 
HOOKER,  KEARNEY  and  STEVENS  were  sent  to  the  threat 
ened  point.  The  battle  of  Chantilly  ensued,  and  the 
rebels  were  driven  back,  but  not  until  two  of  the  division 
generals  had  been  killed,  STEVENS  and  KEARNEY.  But 
few  men  could  have  been  more  sincerely  mourned  by  our 
division  than  was  the  latter  of  these.  Brave  and  chiv- 
alric,  his  soul  a  brand  of  patriotic  fire,  no  brighter  model 
of  northern  chivalry  can  be  named  than  one  -armed  PHIL. 
KEARNEY.  Commanding  the  twin  division  of  HEINTZEL- 
MAN'S  Corps,  his  name  and  HOOKER'S  had  been  indis- 
solubly  bound  together  in  the  history  of  many  a  hard- 
fought  battle,  and  his  form  was  familiar  to  the  men  of 
our  division,  as  with  his  reins  in  his  teeth  and  his  lone 
arm  swinging  his  sword  in  air,  he  led  his  men  into  battle. 
Farthest  from  the  scene  of  action  when  HOOKER  opened 
the  ball  at  Williamsburg,  and  yet  the  first  to  come  to  his 
assistance,  the  same  spirit  which  actuated  him  then  cost 


110  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

him  his  life  at  Chantilly.  It  is  reported  that  STEVENS, 
when  he  became  aware  of  the  numbers  opposed  to  him, 
sent  to  other  generals  for  assistance.  His  appeal  was 
put  off  successively  by  one  general  after  another,  until  it 
came  to  KEARNEY,  but  there  it  met  a  hearty  response. 
"Yes,"  exclaimed  the  general;  " I  wont  refuse  to  stand 
by  STEVENS."  And  not  an  hour  had  passed  before  he  lay 
dead  within  the  rebel  lines.  The  next  morning  his  body 
was  sent  into  our  lines,  to  be  mourned  over  by  the  brave 
men  of  his  division,  by  the  army,  and  by  the  entire  loyal 
North. 

This  battle  was  fought  in  the  midst  of  a  cold  drizzling 
rain,  which  soaked  to  the  skin  and  rendered  our  condition 
as  uncomfortable  as  could  well  be  imagined.  The  brigade 
was  in  a  position  covering  the  road  over  which  our  trains 
were  crowding  towards  Washington,  and  with  pickets 
thrown  out  into  the  woods  upon  our  front,  we  stood  in 
line,  cold  and  shivering,  while  the  battle  was  being  fought 
upon  the  right.  Numbers  of  the  wounded  passed  us  on 
their  way  to  Centreville  to  find  hospitals,  and  also  many 
demoralized  skulkers,  who  could  tell  much  more  about  the 
fight  than  those  who  had  been  "facing  the  music"  of  the 
rebel  bullets.  A  mounted  officer,  a  lieutenant,  claiming 
to  have  been  the  adjutant  of  one  of  the  regiments  en 
gaged,  furnished  an  immense  fund  of  amusement  for  our 
boys  to  enliven  their  cheerless  position.  His  regiment 
had  been  "all  cut  to  pieces,"  and  hardly  a  man  had  es 
caped  to  tell  the  tale,  —  so  he  informed  us,  —  and  while 
he  made  great  efforts  to  appear  wholly  unconcerned,  the 
men  quickly  realized  the  true  state  of  his  mind,  and  went 
to  work  to  harrow  up  his  already  over  -  tasked  feelings. 
He  made  particular  inquiries  as  to  the  roads  in  the  vi- 


SECOND   BULL   RUN.  Ill 

cinity,  where  they  led  to,  whether  there  were  any  rebels 
on  them,  and  so  on,  and  the  men  were  very  communica 
tive,  in  fact  much  more  so  than  usual  on  these  points. 
The  poor  fellow's  eyes  distended  wider  and  wider  with 
fear  as  the  appalling  dangers  of  the  situation  were  nar 
rated  to  him,  and,  to  tell  the  truth,  had  half  the  stories 
he  swallowed  so  readily  been  true,  no  earthly  power  could 
have  saved  us  from  annihilation. 

The  fighting  was  kept  up  long  after  the  darkness  of 
night  had  come,  but  when  the  firing  had  ceased  and  the 
rebels,  thwarted  and  beaten,  had  retired  from  the  field, 
we  were  withdrawn  from  the  position  we  had  held,  and 
marched  to  a  point  near  the  scene  of  the  battle,  where 
was  spent  a  cheerless  and  uncomfortable  night,  one  -  third 
of  the  men  remaining  under  arms,  while  the  remainder 
sought  rest  and  sleep,  although  exposed  to  a  pelting  rain. 

Two  days  later,  on  the  afternoon  of  the  third,  the  di 
vision  arrived  at  Alexandria,  where  for  a  time  it  formed  a 
portion  of  Gen.  BANKS'  Corps,  occupying  Washington 
and  its  defences,  while  the  army  was  engaged  in  the  cam 
paign  which  at  the  great  battle  of  Antietam,  so  gloriously 
turned  back  the  tide  of  rebel  invasion  from  northern  soil. 


CHAPTER     XII. 


FROM     ALEXANDRIA     TO     F  A  L  M  0  U  T  H  . 


EN.  HOOKER  having  been  appointed 
to  the  command  of  MCDOWELL'S  old 
corps,  the  command  of  our  division 
devolved  upon  Gen.  SICKLES;  but 
though  our  new  commander  was  de 
servedly  popular  with  his  men,  yet 
the  division  still  proudly  bore  the 
name  of  "HOOKER'S  Division,"  al 
lowing  no  other  name  to  usurp  the 
place  of  his  who,  taking  it  in  its  in 
fancy,  had  trained  and  reared  it  in 
the  art  of  war,  and  led  it  forth  a  giant  in  strength  to  glo 
rious  victory.  At  the  same  time  the  brigade  lost  its  gen 
eral,  GROVER,  he  being  appointed  to  a  more  important 
command  in  another  department. 

Our  duty  was  by  no  means  light  while  we  remained  in 
Alexandria.  After  camping  for  a  few  days  near  Fort 
Lyon,  we  removed  to  Fairfax  Seminary,  and  then  com 
menced  an  almost  uninterrupted  round  of  duty.  With 


ALEXANDRIA  TO  FALMOUTH.        113 

our  small  number  of  men  we  were  obliged  to  maintain  a 
very  long  picket  line,  about  two  miles  out  from  camp,  and 
large  details  were  made  daily  from  the  division  to  dig 
upon  the  forts  and  other  works  in  the  vicinity.  So  we 
were  not  sorry  when,  on  the  first  day  of  November,  the 
division  broke  camp  and  took  up  its  line  of  march  in  the 
direction  of  Manassas,  which  place  we  occupied  on  the 
third,  while  SIGEL'S  Corps  was  pushed  forward  to  take 
possession  of  the  important  passes  in  the  Blue  Ridge. 
Our  duty  now  consisted  of  guarding  the  line  of  the  rail 
road  to  Alexandria,  and  for  this  purpose  the  division  was 
scattered  in  detachments  at  the  most  important  points. 
The  Second  Regiment,  with  a  battery,  was  sent  to  occupy 
the  heights  of  Centreville.  A  section  of  artillery  was 
placed  in  each  of  three  redoubts,  which,  forming  the 
points  of  a  triangle  of  works,  supported  each  other,  and 
commanded  the  country  about,  and  upon  the  area  inclosed 
by  this  great  triangle  the  regiment  was  encamped. 

The  log  barracks  built  and  formerly  occupied  by  the 
rebels,  were  still  standing,  and  from  the  doors,  shelves, 
tables  and  other  articles  containing  boards  we  soon 
erected  comfortable  quarters  —  little  huts,  warm  and  dry, 
accommodating  from  one  to  a  half  dozen  persons,  with 
fireplaces  of  stone  or  brick,  and  with  wood  enough  close 
at  hand  to  have  supplied  the  whole  army,  in  the  old  bar 
racks  of  the  enemy. 

On  the  seventh  came  the  first  snow  -  storm  of  the  sea 
son,  and  the  sentinels  who  from  the  three  redoubts  sur 
veyed  the  country  beneath,  its  hills  and  valleys  and  roads 
and  fields,  to  detect  the  first  sign  of  any  hostile  approach, 
were  by  no  means  to  be  envied  in  their  exposed  position. 
At  night  the  men  in  camp  kept  close  within  their  snug 


114  SECOND   N.  H.    REGIMENT. 

shanties,  listened  to  the  dismal  howling  of  the  wind  out 
side,  and  basked  in  the  genial  warmth  of  the  fires  which 
blazed  in  their  rude  fireplaces,  and  above  all  thanked  their 
lucky  stars  that  they  were  not  detailed  for  guard  that 
night. 

We  furnished  a  provost  guard  for  the  village  of  Centre- 
ville,  and  occasionally  an  escort  for  a  wagon  train  going 
to  MCCLELLAN  or  SIGEL,  and  all  in  all,  our  duties,  though 
well  performed,  were  light,  and  the  time  passed  very 
pleasantly.  Many  of  the  men  visited  the  battle  field  of 
Bull  Run,  either  to  gratify  their  curiosity  or  to  identify 
the  remains  of  comrades  who  had  fallen  in  the  two  bat 
tles.  A  few  bodies  were  identified,  among  which  was 
that  of  Orderly  Sergeant  FRANK  O.  ROBINSON,  which 
was  first  recognized  by  the  teeth,  and  then,  after  a  re 
moval  of  dirt  from  the  breast,  by  his  name  marked  upon 
the  shirt.  The  sword  scabbard  of  Lieut.  NORTON  R. 
MOORE  was  also  found  near  the  spot  where  he  fell. 

We  remained  at  Centreville  until  the  eighteenth,  when 
we  marched  to  join  the  main  army  at  Falmouth,  then 
under  command  of  Gen.  BURNSIDE,  who  had  superseded 
Gen.  McC'LELLAN.  One  of  SIGEL'S  regiments  was  to 
garrison  the  heights  and  occupy  the  little  huts  we  had 
erected,  which  arrangement  was  not  to  the  liking  of  some 
of  our  men,  who  declared  that  if  they  had  been  contin 
ually  engaged  in  digging  trenches  for  other  troops  to  fight 
behind,  they  were  not  willing  also  to  build  barracks  for 
them  to  live  in.  This  was,  of  course,  a  foolish  spirit, 
but  when  we  consider  that  some  of  the  men  had  but  just 
completed  their  houses  after  a  great  deal  of  labor,  it  will 
be  seen  that  it  was  also  a  very  natural  one.  So  many  of 
these  cross  -  grained  fellows  applied  the  torch  to  the  dry 


ALEXANDRIA  TO  FALMOUTH.        115 

boards  of  which  the  huts  were  composed,  and  we  left 
Centre ville  amidst  clouds  of  smoke,  and  followed  by  the 
curses  of  a  half  dozen  Dutch  officers,  who  were  running 
around  briskly  among  the  burning  buildings  and  pouring 
forth  in  broken  English  their  maledictions  upon  the  "  tarn 
rascals  who  had  purned  up  their  men's  shanties." 

During  the  first  halt  after  leaving  Centreville,  one  of 
those  laughable  incidents  occurred  which  furnish  such  a 
fund  of  amusement  to  enliven  the  dull  passages  of  sol 
dier  life.  Newspapers  had  been  a  rarity  in  our  regiment 
for  some  time,  and  we  were  almost  entirely  in  the  dark  as 
to  the  movements  of  the  outside  world.  One  of  the  men, 
espying  a  piece  of  newspaper  near  where  he  was  resting, 
picked  it  up  and  glanced  at  it.  '.'  Halloo !"  he  exclaimed, 
"  if  here  aren't  a  paper  with  the  latest  news  from  the  seat 
of  war.  Let  me  see  —  dated  the  thirteenth;  well,  that's 
not  very  old,  is  it!"  and  while  the  men  clustered  around 
he  began  to  read  an  article  which  from  the  liberal  display 
of  headings  promised  to  be  of  unusual  importance. 
"  SHERMAN'S  EXPEDITION,"  was  the  opening,  and  the 
sage  remark  passed  around  the  circle  without  dissent, 
that  "  they  knew  BURNSIDE  would  get  up  some  kind  of 
an  expedition  as  soon  as  they  heard  he  had  command  of 
the  army."  The  "sub-headings"  were  gone  through 
with,  and  the  man  was  busy  reading  the  dispatches,  when 
one  of  the  listeners  remarked  that  it  sounded  most  amaz 
ingly  like  something  he  had  read  before.  "  What  did  you 
say  the  date  of  that  paper  was  ?"  inquired  another,  over 
whose  face  a  broad  grin  was  beginning  to  creep.  "The 
thirteenth  —  November  thirteenth!"  "Yes  —  but  the 
year?"  "The  year! — why  this  year  of  course  —  here  it 
is  — 18 what!  hang  me  if  it  aren't  1861;  and  hero 


116  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

I've  been  reading  all  about  'SHERMAN'S  expedition'  to 
Port  Royal  just  one  year  ago."  "Fall  in!"  shouted  the 
colonel  at  this  moment ;  and  the  column  was  formed  amid 
shouts  of  laughter  and  loud  calls  for  the  latest  news  from 
"SHERMAN'S  expedition." 

The  second  day's  march  brought  the  division  to  Wolf 
Run  Shoals,  a  ford  upon  Occoquan  Creek,  not  far  from 
where  it  empties  into  the  Potomac.  This  place,  present 
ing  the  greatest  natural  advantages  as  a  defensive  position 
had  been  occupied  and  fortified  by  the  rebels  the  winter 
previous.  The  creek  here  rushed  down  through  the 
rocky  gorges  and  clefts  of  the  precipitous  hills,  which  upon 
either  side  were  covered  with  dense  forests,  forming  as 
wild  a  scene  as  could  well  be  imagined,  and  it  was  well 
deserving  of  its  name,  "  Wolf  Run."  Upon  the  hill  com 
manding  the  ford  from  the  south  the  rebels  had  erected 
two  rough  redoubts,  and  between  these  and  the  creek  a 
line  of  rifle  pits  extended  through  an  abqtis  of  slashed 
timber.  So  precipitous  were  the  hills  that  in  many  places 
their  ascent  was  next  to  impossible,  and  at  night  the  men 
of  our  brigade,  camped  below  the  redoubts,  beheld  the 
camp-fires  of  the  remainder  of  the  division,  upon  the 
hill,  as  if  they  had  been  huge  torches  suspended  in  mid 
air  almost  directly  overhead. 

We  remained  at  Wolf  Run  Shoals  four  days,  when  we 
continued  our  march  on  through  Dumfries,  which  was 
directly  opposite  our  camp  at  Budd's  Ferry,  the  preceding 
winter,  and  had  then  been  the  goal  of  our  desires,  and  on 
the  twenty  -  eighth  we  joined  the  army  at  Falmouth. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


THE     BATTLE     OF     F  K  E  D  E  R  I  C  K  S  33  U  R  G  . 


a  fortnight  we  lay  inactive  in  our 
camp  about  two  miles  below  Falmouth, 
although  daily  expecting  a  movement,  as 
it  was  not  thought  BUENSIDE  would  put 
his  army  into  winter  quarters,  even  if  the 
delay  in  the  arrival  of  his  pontoons  had 
enabled  the  enemy  to  possess  the  heights 
of  Fredericksburg,  which  he  had  contem 
plated  occupying  when  his  rapid  move 
ment  was  made  from  Warrenton. 

From  the  steep  bluffs  upon  the  Fal 
mouth  side  of  the  river  we  could  look  down  upon  the  city 
of  Fredericksburg,  and  with  a  glass  could  even  read  the 
names  upon  the  signs  in  the  business  streets.  Groups  of 
sight  -  seers  collected  daily  upon  these  commanding  posi 
tions  and  watched  the  rebels  moving  about  the  town  or 
across  the  fields  which  afterwards  became  so  memorable 
as  the  scene  of  SUMMER'S  furious  assault. 

Under  Gen.  BUK^SIDE   the  army  was   organized  into 


118  SECOND  N,  H,  REGIMENT, 

three  Grand  Divisions,  SUMNER  commanding  the  right, 
HOOKER  the  centre,  and  FRANKLIN  the  left.  Our  corps, 
commanded  by  Gen.  STONEMAN,  and  consisting  of  the 
two  divisions  of  HEINTZELMAN'S  old  corps,  with  the  ad 
dition  of  a  new  division  under  Gen.  WHIPPLE,  waa 
attached  to  the  Centre  Grand  Division. 

On  the  eleventh  of  December,  1862,  commenced  the 
battle  of  Fredericksburg.  At  early  dawn  we  were  up, 
and  with  everything  packed  in  readiness  for  a  movement, 
when  the  roar  of  guns  in  the  direction  of  Fredericksburg 
greeted  our  ears,  the  sounds  reverberating  along  the 
Falmouth  bluffs  in  a  thousand  echoes  at  every  discharge. 
We  moved  to  within  about  a  mile  of  the  river,  there  to 
await  our  turn  at  crossing  as  soon  as  the  pontoon  bridges 
should  have  been  laid.  The  incidents  of  the  day  are  well 
known.  The  engineer  corps  made  repeated  attempts  to 
lay  the  pontoons  but  were  repeatedly  driven  from  their 
work  by  the  rebel  sharpshooters  upon  the  opposite  bank. 
A  furious  cannonade  was  opened  upon  the  rebels  from  a 
hundred  and  fifty  pieces  of  artillery,  from  which  the  city 
was  set  on  fire  in  many  places,  and  the  rebel  riflemen 
forced  to  keep  under  cover  until  the  fire  slackened  and 
the  engineers  again  resumed  their  work,  when  they  would 
emerge  from  their  hiding  places  and  drive  the  pontoniers 
from  their  labors.  This  was  repeated  again  and  again, 
until  a  forlorn  hope  of  brave  men,  seized  with  a  sudden 
inspiration,  leaped  into  the  pontoon  boats,  pushed  across 
the  river,  and  charging  up  the  steep  bank  drove  the  rebel 
riflemen  from  their  position.  The  bridges  were  soon 
completed,  and  troops  enough  pushed  across  to  maintain 
the  foothold  so  much  time  had  been  "wasted  to  gain. 

The    next    day  was    a    busy  one.     Our    army  pressed 


BATTLE    OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  119 

across  the  river  in  long  columns,  SUMNER,  crossing  upon 
the  right  near  the  city,  and  FRANKLIN  some  two  miles 
farther  down  the  river,  while  HOOKER'S  Grand  Division 
was  held  in  reserve  upon  the  Falmouth  side.  Our  di 
vision  was  for  a  time  massed  upon  the  bluffs  directly 
opposite  the  town,  from  which  point  all  the  movements  of 
SUMNER'S  Division  could  be  distinctly  observed,  while  at 
the  same  time  we  were  in  full  view  of  the  rebels  upon  the 
opposite  heights.  Their  artillery  shelled  the  pontoons 
upon  which  SUMNER  was  crossing,  and  occasionally  one 
of  their  shots  would  strike  near  where  we  lay,  but  we 
were  at  too  great  a  distance  for  them  to  shell  us  with  any 
effect  from  their  field-pieces. 

In  the  afternoon  we  were  marched  toward  the  lower 
pontoons,  which  we  crossed  during  the  night,  after  having 
waded  through  the  oceans  of  mud  to  reach  them. 

On  Thursday,  the  thirteenth,  the  grand  attack  was 
made  to  carry  the  heights.  The  Second  was  left  to  guard 
the  bridges,  and  thus  while  doing  our  duty,  we  had  a 
chance  to  watch  the  progress  of  the  fight  without  sharing 
its  dangers.  From  the  river's  bank  we  could  plainly  see 
the  forces  engaged  upon  the  left,  but  upon  the  right  we 
could  only  see  the  crest  from  which  the  rebel  batteries 
were  pouring  death  into  the  ranks  of  SUMNER'S  brave 
division,  the  movements  of  our  troops  being  hidden  from 
view  by  the  trees  upon  the  plain  and  by  the  shattered 
buildings  of  Fredericksburg.  But  from  the  incessant  vol 
leys  of  musketry,  and  from  the  lively  way  in  which  the 
rebel  guns  were  working,  we  knew  that  a  desperate  effort 
was  being  made  to  carry  the  heights.  Rebel  signal  flags 
waved  at  various  points  along  the  ridge,  and  some  of  our 
heavy  guns,  planted  upon  the  Falmouth  heights,  threw 


120  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

their  shells  across  the  river  and  over  the  heads  of  SUM- 
NEK'S  men  into  the  rebel  works.  But  though  the  Right 
Grand  Division  did  everything  and  dared  everything  that 
a  devoted  heroism  could  prompt  them  to  do,  it  was  worse 
than  useless,  for  while  thousands  of  their  killed  and 
wounded  marked  the  spot  where  they  had  fought  so 
bravely,  the  rebels,  who  had  suffered  comparatively  but 
small  loss,  retained  full  possession  of  the  heights. 

The  fighting  also  was  furious  upon  the  left,  and  during 
a  charge  made  by  one  of  our  brigades,  an  entire  North 
Carolina  Regiment  was  taken  prisoners.  They  were 
brought  to  the  vicinity  of  the  bridges,  guarded  by  a  de 
tachment  from  RUSH'S  Pennsylvania  Lancers.  The 
lieutenant  colonel  who  had  commanded  the  regiment  ap 
peared  to  feel  keenly  the  disaster  to  his  command,  and 
was  making  strong  efforts  to  discover  how  the  thing  was 
done.  It  appeared  that  the  rebels  were  lying  flat  upon 
the  ground  in  a  dense  growth  of  bushes,  when  our  regi 
ments  charged  so  suddenly  upon  them  that  they  were 
taken  unawares,  and  gave  up  without  firing  a  shot.  The 
lieutenant  colonel  would  have  it  that  some  one  of  his  reg 
iment  called  out  "Don't  fire;  they  are  our  own  men," 
when  the  Yankees  charged  down  upon  them,  by  which 
means  the  volley  which  should  have  checked  the  charge 
was  prevented.  To  discover  who  the  "  traitor"  was  he 
made  diligent  inquiries  among  his  men,  but  failed  to  find 
out  the  offender. 

In  no  position  did  we  ever  witness  such  a  mixture  of 
sad  and  of  ludicrous  incidents  as  at  the  bridges.  No 
man,  except  the  wounded  or  those  who  had  passes  from 
the  proper  authority,  was  allowed  to  cross  to  the  Fal- 
mouth  side,  yet  that  fact  did  not  prevent  scores  of  "lay- 


BATTLE    OF   FKEDEKICKSBURG.  121 

backs"  from  attempting  to  pass  the  guards  upon  one  pre 
text  or  another.  These  men  generally  claimed  to  have 
been  wounded,  and  while  their  faces  indicated  that  they 
were  suffering  the  most  intense  pain,  they  would  show 
the  hole  through  their  clothing  where  the  bullet  had  en 
tered,  and  even  stains  of  blood.  A  close  inspection  gen 
erally  discovered  these  holes  to  extend  no  farther  than  the 
skin,  and  the  blood  to  be  that  of  some  braver  comrade 
who  had  been  wounded  in  the  fight.  Every  man  who 
came  along  was  examined  by  the  guard  —  the  wounded 
passed  on,  and  the  sneaks  were  sent  back  to  the  front. 

At  about  sunset  a  furious  artillery  duel  was  fought 
upon  the  left,  lasting  but  a  short  time,  but  resulting  in 
the  death  of  Gen.  BAYARD,  who,  as  the  youngest  general 
in  the  service,  had  already  achieved  an  enviable  name  in 
connection  with  its  cavalry  arm.  This  affair  is  of  interest 
to  New  Hampshire  readers,  as  it  was  here  the  "Man 
chester  Battery"  was  hotly  engaged,  and  lost  several  men. 

About  midnight  we  were  relieved  of  our  duty  at  the 
bridges  by  the  Second  New  York  Regiment,  and  marched 
to  the  front  to  participate  in  the  expected  battle  of  the 
morrow.  We  joined  the  brigade  in  a  cornfield  at  the  exr 
treme  front,  which  had  been  trampled  by  horses  and  men 
and  cut  up  by  wheels  until  the  mud  stood  ankle -deep. 
We  formed  to  the  rear  of  the  Twenty -Sixth  Pennsylva 
nia,  and  those  who  were  fastidious  about  making  their 
beds  in  the  soft  mud  of  the  field,  entered  into  conversa 
tion  with  the  Pennsylvania  boys,  who  were  under  arms 
ready  to  awake  their  slumbering  comrades  upon  warning 
from  the  pickets.  Our  pickets  were  about  two  hundred 
yards  to  the  front,  and  the  rebels  were  within  easy  rifle 
shot.  In  fact,  although  the  brigade  had  not  been  engaged 


• 


122  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

the  day  previous,  the  rebel  sharpshooters  had  picked  off 
some  twenty -five  men  from  the  Twenty  -  Sixth  as  they 
lay  in  the  line  df  battle.  The  enemy's  camp  fires,  gleam 
ing  upon  the  hills  to  our  front,  seemed  so  near  that  we 
might  almost  have  thrown  a  stone  into  them  from  the 
hand,  and  the  bullets  fired  by  their  pickets  whistled  over 
our  heads  and  struck  in  the  fields  far  to  our  rear. 

As  the  light  of  morn  gradually  approached  the  firing  of 
the  pickets  became  brisker;  and  to  inaugurate  the  day, 
as  the  sun  arose  the  rebels  ran  out  a  battery  a  few  hun 
dred  yards  to  our  front  and  commenced  to  shell  the  brig 
ade.  Several  men  had  been  wounded,  when  Gen.  GARB, 
ordered  Col.  MARSTOX  to  send  out  twenty  or  thirty  rifle 
men  to  silence  the  battery,  and  Company  B  was  ordered 
to  advance  and  pick  off  the  gunners.  Deploying  as  skir 
mishers,  they  advanced,  and  soon  their  Sharp's  rifles  were 
cracking  briskly  along  their  picket  line.  The  rebel  artil 
lerymen  could  not  stand  the  fire  of  the  New  Hampshire 
riflemen,  and  their  battery  was  whisked  out  of  range  as 
fast  as  the  horses  could  haul  the  guns. 

The  skirmish  thus  inaugurated  was  kept  up  until  nearly 
night,  the  regiment  having  one  company  out  at  a  time, 
relieving  as  fast  as  ammunition  was  exhausted.  The  po 
sition  in  front  of  the  Second  offered  many  good  places  for 
skirmishers  to  conceal  themselves.  There  was  the  soli 
tary,  fire  -  blackened  chimney,  without  which  no  Virginia 
scene  would  have  been  complete,  the  massive  gateposts 
on  either  side  of  the  road,  the  pile  of  lumber  in  the  fields 
upon  the  right,  and  the  ditches  running  at  right  angles 
with  the  rebel  lines,  from  which  a  dozen  men,  lying  one 
behind  another  and  firing  over  each  other's  heads,  kept  a 
stream  of  bullets  pouring  down  the  road,  that  being  the 


BATTLE    OF    FREDERICKSBURG.  123 

only  way  in  which  the  rebels  could  be  prevented  from 
getting  a  raking  fire  down  the  ditch. 

About  a  dozen  of  the  regiment  were  wounded  during 
the  day,  among  whom  was  Sergeant  CHARLES  VICKERY. 
His  position  as  "left  general  guide"  would  have  excused 
him  from  the  fight  when  the  entire  regiment  was  not 
engaged,  but  when  his  company  ( I )  began  to  deploy,  he 
would  not  think  of  being  left  behind,  and  taking  his 
position  in  the  line,  advanced  with  it.  Taking  shelter 
behind  the  pile  of  lumber  before  spoken  of,  he  was  care 
fully  reconnoitering  the  position,  when  a  rebel  rifleman 
sighted  him  and  sent  a  bullet  straight  towards  his  heart. 
But  the  brass  eagle -plate  upon  his  cross -belt  interposed, 
and  the  bullet,  warded  from  the  vital  part,  glanced  and 
buried  itself  in  his  neck,  inflicting  a  severe  but  not  fatal 
wound. 

Near  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  a  rebel  officer  came 
out  with  a  flag  of  truce,  and  the  firing  ceased  immedi 
ately.  A  truce  had  been  established  by  FRANKLIX  upon 
our  left  some  time  before,  for  the  purpose  of  removing 
the  wounded  and  burying  the  dead  who  lay  between  the 
lines,  and  though  his  skirmishers  had  shouted  until  they 
were  hoarse  for  us  to  cease  firing,  the  boys  had  kept 
industriously  popping  away,  as  did  the  rebels  in  our  front. 
Yet,  but  a  few  minutes  after  the  white  flag  appeared,  the 
men  who  had  been  so  busily  engaged  during  the  day  in 
shooting  at  each  other,  laid  down  their  arms  and  mingled 
together  as  cordially  as  though  they  had  always  been  the 
best  of  friends.  The  rebels  exchanged  tobacco  for  coffee, 
and  their  papers  for  such  as  we  happened  to  have.  One 
of  our  boys  had  a  copy  of  Harper  s  Weekly,  with  illus 
trations  of  the  war,  which  excited  much  interest  among 


124  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

the  rebels,  who  crowded  around  to  see  the  pictures.  A 
broad  caricature  upon  the  Confederacy  was  greeted  with 
shouts  of  laughter,  the  rebels  appearing  to  enjoy  it  as 
much  as  we  did  ourselves. 

Notes  were  compared  as  to  the  result  of  the  firing  dur 
ing  the  day,  and  they  acknowledged  a  considerable  loss. 
The  captain  of  the  battery  which  had  greeted  us  in  the 
morning,  when  informed  that  it  was  a  New  Hampshire 
company  which  drove  him  from  his  position,  told  us 
that  one  of  his  men  killed  at  that  time  was  from  New 
Hampshire.  Thus  a  renegade  son  of  the  old  Granite 
State,  received  from  her  loyal  sons  the  punishment  due 
for  his  treachery. 

There  was  considerable  bantering  and  jesting  between 
the  men.  "What  makes  your  folks  leave  us  so  many 
good  clothes  and  fine  blankets?"  enquired  an  unshorn 
confederate,  who  looked  as  if  good  clothes  had  not  trou 
bled  him  for  some  time.  "We  obey  the  injunction  to 
clothe  the  naked  and  feed  the  hungry.  But,  I  say, 
Johnny,  what  made  you  keep  your  stretchers  so  busy  over 
there  to-day?"  "Why,  the  fact  is,  your  fellows  were 
such  good  shots  that  they  treed  some  of  our  men  out 
skirmishing,  so  that  they  couldn't  get  away  without  being 
shot ;  so  they  stayed  out  till  they  starved  to  death  !  " 

Before  parting,  a  mutual  agreement  was  entered  upon, 
that  no  more  picket  firing  should  take  place  unless  an 
advance  was  made,  and  we  accepted  the  polite  invitation 
of  the  rebels  to  "  call  the  next  day." 

Sunday  and  Monday,  fourteenth  and  fifteenth,  we  lay 
upon  the  plains  inviting  an  attack,  and  Monday  night  the 
army  was  withdrawn  across  the  river  to  its  old  position, 
in  perfect  order  and  leaving  no  material  for  the  enemy. 


BATTLE    OF   FREDERICKSBURG.  125 

The  night  was  favorable  for  such  a  movement,  rainy  and 
dark,  with  a  high  wind  blowing,  which  drowned  the  noise 
of  rumbling  wheels  and  tramping  columns,  and  the  first 
intimation  the  rebels  received  of  our  departure,  was  when 
the  morning  light  revealed  to  them  the  unoccupied  plains, 
and  the  long  lines  of  blue  -  clad  soldiers  disappearing  over 
the  heights  upon  the  other  side  of  the  river.  But  the 
movement  did  not  surprise  the  rebels  more  than  it  did 
some  of  our  own  pickets,  who  in  the  morning  found 
themselves  entirely  without  reserves,  and  many  of  whom 
arrived  at  the  river's  bank  just  in  season  to  cross  upon 
the  pontoons  before  they  were  taken  up. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 


FALMOUTH     AND     NEW     HAMPSHIRE. 


HE  new  year,  1863,  opened  upon  the 
army  at  Falmouth,  passing  its  time  in 
reviews  and  drills,  and  preparing  against 
the  rains  and  snows  of  winter,  until  the 
twentieth  of  January,  when  the  move 
ment  familiarly  known  as  "  BTJRNSIDE'S 
mud  scrape"  was  commenced.  Gen. 
BURNSIDE  had,  the  day  before,  issued 
an  address  to  the  army,  informing  them 
that  they  were  about  to  be  led  against 
the  enemy,  and  calling  upon  them  to 
fight  with  all  their  old  spirit  and  enthusiasm. 

On  the  twentieth  the  division  left  camp  and  marched 
about  two  miles  in  the  direction  of  Falmouth,  where, 
after  shivering  for  hours  in  a  cold  rain,  the  men,  at  nine 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  were  marched  back  to  camp.  On 
the  morning  of  the  twenty -first  the  division  was  again  on 
the  move,  and  marched  about  six  miles  in  the  direction  of 
the  fords  at  which  Gen.  BURXSIDE  designed  to  cross  the 


FALMOUTH   AND   NEW   HAMPSHIRE.  127 

army,  encamping  in  dense  pine  woods.  The  day  was 
rainy,  and  the  roads  soon  became  broad  beds  of  mud, 
through  which  the  men  made  their  way  with  the  utmost 
difficulty,  and  the  mules  and  horses  attached  to  the  artil 
lery  and  wagons  floundered  and  struggled  in  vain  en 
deavors  to  drag  their  loads  where  they  could  not  easily 
have  made  their  way  unencumbered.  Light  field -pieces, 
with  a  dozen  horses  attached  to  them,  were  stuck  fast  in 
the  mud,  and  the  wagons  composing  the  unwieldly  pon 
toon  train  were  scattered  at  various  points  along  the 
route.  The  rebels  soon  found  out  the  state  of  affairs  in 
our  army,  and  strongly  guarded  the  fords.  An  attempt 
to  advance  was  now  worse  than  useless,  and,  in  fact,  to 
return  to  the  camp  we  had  left  and  take  with  us  our 
heavy  trains  was  no  easy  matter.  On  the  twenty  -  second, 
details  from  the  division  were  busy  corduroying  the  roads, 
and  on  the  twenty  -  third  the  troops  returned  to  their  old 
camp,  the  sun,  which  had  for  several  days  hid  itself  from 
sight,  dispersing  the  clouds  and  shining  warm  and  clear 
as  soon  as  the  retrograde  movement  was  begun. 

Shortly  after  this  Gen.  BUKNSIDE  was  relieved  of  the 
command  of  the  army,  and  the  men  of  the  division  with 
pride  saw  their  old  general  assigned  to  the  position.  Re 
forms  were  immediately  inaugurated,  extending  into  the 
minutest  details  of  camp  life,  which  served  to  inspire  the 
army  with  the  knowledge  that  their  new  leader  was  mas 
ter  of  the  situation.  The  organization  of  the  army  into 
three  grand  divisions  was  abolished,  and  the  army  corps, 
of  three  divisions  each,  designated  by  numbers.  A  sys 
tem  of  corps  badges  was  established — the  lozenge  for  the 
First,  the  trefoil  for  the  Second,  and  so  on  —  the  glorious 
old  diamond,  the  brilliant  of  them  all,  being  the  emblem 


128  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

which  the  Third  Corps,  commanded  by  SICKLES,  made  as 
proud  a  decoration  as  was  the  cross  of  honor  to  the 
French  soldiers  of  Napoleon. 

The  time  passed  with  alternate  seasons  of  snow  and 
rain  and  mud,  of  drills,  inspections  and  picket  tours,  until 
Thursday,  the  twenty  -  sixth  of  February,  when  one  of 
the  most  important  movements  in  the  history  of  the  Sec 
ond  began,  the  return  to  New  Hampshire  of  the  entire 
regiment  upon  furlough.  The  intense  joy  with  which  we 
greeted  the  order  for  the  regiment  to  "  report  to  Maj.  Gen. 
JOHN  E.  WOOL,  commanding  Department  of  the  East," 
can  never  be  realized  by  outsiders ;  and  though  the  roads 
were  muddy  and  the  knapsacks  heavy,  there  was  no  strag 
gling  from  the  ranks  when  the  regiment  marched  to 
"  Stoneman's  Switch,"  there  to  take  the  cars  for  Belle 
Plains. 

On  the  morning  of  the  twenty  -  seventh  we  moved  to 
the  "  Soldiers'  Rest"  from  the  boat  which  had  conveyed 
us  from  Aquia  Creek,  and  on  the  following  day  started 
for  Philadelphia,  where  we  arrived  Sunday  morning,  and 
were  furnished  with  dinner  at  the  "Soldier's  Refreshment 
Saloon."  Monday  we  arrived  in  New  York,  and  on  Tues 
day  morning  again  set  foot  upon  the  soil  of  our  native 
New  England,  and  inhaled  her  free  and  bracing  air.  Our 
friends  at  Boston  greeted  us  on  our  return  as  warmly  as 
twenty  months  before  they  had  bidden  us  "Godspeed" 
upon  our  mission,  and  at  Faneuil  Hall  spread  a  collation 
which  furnished  a  strange  contrast  to  our  accustomed 
army  fare. 

But  it  was  in  our  own  State,  at  our  own  homes,  we  re 
ceived  our  warmest  welcome.  At  nine  o'clock,  Tuesday 
evening,  the  train  bearing  the  regiment  thundered  into 


FALMOUTH   AND    NEW    HAMPSHIRE.  129 

the  depot  at  Manchester,  and  the  men,  thronging  from 
the  cars,  met  such  a  reception  as  they  could  have  received 
from  none  but  their  "own  people."  Salvos  of  artillery 
pealed  out  on  the  night  air,  and  escorted  by  a  grand  pro 
cession  the  regiment  proceeded  to  Smyth's  Hall,  where 
tables  were  spread  with  a  profuseness  which  might  have 
supplied  the  wants  of  two  half-  starved  regiments  instead 
of  one  which  had  been  feasted  in  Boston  but  a  few  hours 
before.  The  galleries  were  filled  with  the  lady  friends 
and  relatives  of  the  soldiers,  most  of  whom  had  shown 
their  pluck  by  maintaining  their  position  manfully 
hour  after  hour,  even  before  the  regiment  had  arrived  in 
Boston.  Mayor  ABBOT  welcomed  the  regiment  in  a  neat 
speech,  which  was  responded  to  by  Lieut.  Col.  BAILEY, 
when  the  men  accepted  the  invitation  to  attack  the  eata 
bles  which  the  ladies  had  bountifully  spread  upon  the 
long  tables.  The  wants  of  the  inner  man  being  supplied, 
Hon.  FREDERICK  SMYTH  was  introduced  as  toast-master, 
and  short  speeches  by  men  of  the  regiment  and  by  citi 
zens,  with  responses  to  patriotic  sentiments,  filled  up  the 
time  until  a  late  hour,  when  the  men  scattered  to  seek 
the  more  welcome  reception  awaiting  them  upon  the 
thresholds  of  their  own  homes. 

The  next  day  was  a  gala  day  at  Concord,  and  the  re 
ception  was  upon  a  magnificent  scale,  consisting  of  a 
grand  procession,  dinner  at  the  hotels,  and  speeches  of 
welcome.  Gen.  WOOL  was  there  to  add  eclat  to  the 
occasion,  and  everything  passed  off  to  the  unbounded 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned. 

The  headquarters  of  the  regiment  were  established  at 
Concord ;  and  while  seven  companies  were  stationed  at 
that  place,  three  companies  (D,  E  and  K,)  were  sent  to 

6 


130  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

Portsmouth  and  quartered  at  Fort  Constitution.  Fur 
loughs  for  a  few  days  were  granted,  which  were  usually 
extended  for  as  many  weeks  by  the  men,  who  preferred 
the  comforts  and  pleasures  of  home  to  the  rough  accom 
modations  which  the  barracks  afforded.  But  though 
many  members  of  the  regiment  visited  Canada,  the  refuge 
of  sneaks  and  runaways,  the  first  call  for  the  regiment  to 
assemble,  preparatory  to  returning  to  the  seat  of  war, 
brought  these  men  from  the  shelter  of  the  "neutral"  soil 
once  more  to  take  their  places  beneath  the  old  flag,  and 
to  share  its  dangers  and  its  glories. 

Before  leaving  the  State  the  Seventeenth  Regiment, 
numbering  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  was  consoli 
dated  with  our  regiment,  after  the  officers  of  the  former — 
commissioned  and  non-commissioned  —  had  been  dis 
charged.  The  men  at  first  were  very  unwilling  to  consent 
to  any  such  arrangement,  and  stuck  up  placards  which 
read,  "  The  Seventeenth  or  nothing,"  which  the  veterans 
of  the  Second  read  and  commented  on  by  remarking  that 
"  there  was  not  much  choice  between  the  two,"  which  was 
supposed  to  be  sufficiently  sarcastic  upon  the  men  who 
were  unwilling  to  become  members  of  such  a  regiment  as 
the  Second.  But  when  we  returned  we  took  them  with 
us,  and  during  the  nine  months  they  served  with  us  no 
more  faithful  men  were  found  in  the  ranks ;  and  at  Gettys 
burg  they  distinguished  themselves  by  their  good  behavior 
and  lost  a  large  proportion  of  their  number. 


CHAPTER    XV. 


THE      MARCH     TO      GETTYSBURG. 


EMAINING  at  home  until  the  twenty  - 
fifth  of  May,  we  set  out  to  return  to 
Washington,  where  we  arrived  on  the 
twenty -eighth,  and  went  into  camp  on 
East  Capitol  Hill.  Here  we  remained 
until  the  eleventh  of  June,  when  we  took 
steamer  for  Aquia  Creek,  once  more  to 
join  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The 
strategic  movements  which  finally  cul 
minated  in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg  had 
already  commenced,  and  when  at  about 
dark  we  arrived  at  Stoneman's  Switch  the  deserted  camps 
in  the  vicinity  proclaimed  that  the  army  had  gone.  The 
next  day,  however,  we  were  once  more  with  our  old  com 
rades,  joining  the  Excelsior  Brigade  at  Hartwood  Church, 
nine  miles  above  Falmouth.  On  the  thirteenth  we  joined 
the  Jersey  Brigade,  to  which  we  were  attached  as  long  as 
we  remained  with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  We  made 
on  that  day  a  march  of  nearly  thirty  miles,  to  Rappahan- 


132  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

nock  Station,  where  we  remained  during  the  following 
day,  in  the  evening  of  which  we  commenced  one  of  the 
most  trying  marches  we  ever  made.  Although  under 
arms  at  sunset  we  were  not  on  our  way  until  nearly  ten 
o'clock,  when,  striking  the  railroad,  we  followed  that  in 
the  direction  of  Warrenton  Junction. 

The  division  was  marching  rapidly  along  the  track, 
with  its  unceasing  tramp,  tramp,  tramp  of  thousands  of 
feet,  and  the  monotonous  clatter  of  tin  dippers  against 
bayonets  and  canteens,  when  the  horses  attached  to  a 
caisson  of  one  of  the  batteries  became  frightened  and 
unmanageable,  and  dashed  through  the  column  near  the 
head  of  the  Second  Regiment,  making  a  furious  clatter 
and  severely  injuring  one  or  two  men  who  could  not  get 
out  of  the  way  with  sufficient  agility.  The  men  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  scattered  in  every  direction  to  escape 
injury  from  the  frightened  brutes.  Those  farther  beyond, 
who  could  hear  but  not  see  the  cause  of  the  commotion, 
naturally  supposed  that  some  infernal  rebel  trap  had  been 
sprung,  and  when  they  saw  the  men  in  that  direction 
scattering  for  the  bushes  they  followed  suit.  The  stam 
pede  spread  from  company  to  company,  and  from  regi 
ment  to  regiment,  through  the  whole  division,  the  men 
seeking  shelter  from  the  unseen  danger  in  wild  flight. 
Officers  shouted  "Halt!  Halt!"  at  the  top  of  their 
voices,  at  the  same  time  running  away  as  fast  as  any  of 
their  men.  In  such  a  pellmell  rush  there  were  naturally 
many  collisions  —  the  men  could  not  get  out  of  each  oth 
er's  way  fast  enough  —  and  the  ditches  upon  either  side 
of  the  road  were  filled  with  prostrate  forms,  writhing  and 
kicking,  scratching  and  clawing  like  a  nest  of  Kilkenny 
cats.  Those  who  got  beyond  the  ditches  generally  brought 


MARCH    TO    GETTYSBURG. 


133 


up  over  a  stump  or  log,  which  sent  them  sprawling  in  one 
direction  while  guns  and  other  loose  articles  flew  in  an 
other.  Never,  in  its  fiercest  rights,  had  the  division  seen 
as  many  men  fall  in  so  short  a  time  as  on  this  occasion. 
But  the  panic  was  soon  over,  and  the  men  came  swarming 
back  upon  the  railroad.  Then  came  loud  calls  for  miss 
ing  articles.  "Where's  my  gun?"  "Who's  seen  any 
thing  of  a  stray  hat?"  " My  haversack  and  three  days 
rations  missing  —  liberal  reward!"  and  so  on.  Many  of 
the  men  were  obliged  to  resume  the  march  minus  these 
articles  ;  and  if  some  relic  seeker  should  light  upon  the 
spot  where  the  stampede  occurred  he  would  doubtless 
consult  his  note -book  to  discover  what  great  battle  was 
fought  between  Warrenton  and  Rappahannock  Station, 
and  might  collect  relics  enough  to  furnish  any  museum  of 
moderate  pretensions.  The  uninitiated  may  laugh  at  this 
affair,  and  call  it  a  "  cowardly  skedaddle,"  but  they  must 
bear  in  mind  that  the  men  engaged  in  it  were  the  same 
who  had  borne  the  brunt  at  Williamsburg,  who  at  Chan- 
cellorsville  had  stemmed  the  tide  of  disaster  which  threat 
ened  to  engulf  all,  forming  with  their  bayonets  a  bulwark 
against  which  the  exultant  legions  of  JACKSON  hurled 
themselves  in  vain,  and  who  afterwards  at  Gettysburg 
fought  with  a  desperation  which  was  never  excelled  dur 
ing  the  war. 

At  Warrenton  Junction,  where  the  division  arrived  the 
next  morning,  we  rested  for  a  few  hours,  when  the  march 
was  again  resumed  toward  Manassas,  down  the  railroad 
and  over  the  same  route  we  had  before  traveled  on  the 
day  of  the  battle  of  Bristow  Station.  As  on  that  day 
many  men  were  sunstruck,  but  the  column  was  pushed 
wearily  on,  mile  after  mile,  hour  after  hour,  until  at  mid- 


134  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

night  the  halt  was  sounded  within  the  line  of  works 
which  encircled  Manassas  Junction. 

The  army  was  working  its  way  northward,  HOOKER 
maneuvering  so  as  to  constantly  interpose  a  barrier 
between  LEE  and  Washington.  For  several  days  the 
division  was  encamped  at  "Gum  Springs,"  a  little  village 
of  half  a  dozen  houses,  where  Gen.  BRADDOCK  had  also 
encamped  during  his  ill-fated  campaign;  and  on  the 
twenty -fifth  we  broke  up  our  camp  there,  crossed  the 
Potomac  at  Edwards  Ferry  upon  a  long  pontoon  bridge, 
and  were  led  upon  the  "tow-path  march,"  of  which  we 
will  tell  the  story  and  leave  the  reader  to  judge  of  the 
wisdom  and  humanity  of  it.  Gen.  HUMPHREYS,  tempo 
rarily  commanding  the  division,  can  have  the  full  credit 
of  the  affair,  for  no  general  ever  has  or  probably  ever  will 
be  found  willing  to  contest  for  the  honors  resulting  from 
that  night's  work. 

After  crossing  the  river  at  Edwards  Ferry  the  point  to 
be  reached  was  the  mouth  of  the  Monocacy,  not  far  from 
twenty  miles  above.  The  "Ohio  and  Chesapeake  Canal" 
followed  the  windings  of  the  river  for  that  distance,  upon 
one  side  of  which  \vas  a  highway  broad  and  direct,  afford 
ing  excellent  passage  for  troops,  upon  the  other  the  "  tow  - 
path,"  a  narrow  bank  between  the  river  and  canal.  Upon 
the  latter  road  the  division  was  led,  and  the  general  con 
gratulated  himself  that  he  had  got  his  machines  upon  a 
track  where  there  was  no  opportunity  for  straggling.  His 
stout  horse  led  off  at  a  slashing  gait,  and  the  column  fol 
lowed  after.  Night  came  on  dark  and  rainy,  and  the  men 
splashed  along  the  narrow  pathway  which  soon  became 
coated  with  mud  and  slime.  Occasionally  a  "souse" 
would  be  heard  as  some  unfortunate  soldier  lost  his  pre» 


MARCH   TO    GETTYSBURG.  135 

carious  foothold  and  slipped  into  the  canal.  The  men 
began  to  grumble  and  wonder  why  they  were  led  upon 
such  a  road  when  one  so  much  more  passable  ran  parallel 
with  their  course  and  not  a  dozen  rods  distant.  No  halt, 
no  rest,  and  yet  they  kept  manfully  on  after  the  horse 
which  led  the  column,  hoping  soon  to  come  to  a  bridge 
across  the  canal  by  which  a  camping  ground  might  be 
gained.  A  light  appeared  ahead,  beaming  from  the  win 
dows  of  a  canal -boat  bound  for  Georgetown,  and  as  it 
approached,  the  men,  hailing  the  driver  of  the  tow -horse, 
inquired  how  far  it  was  to  a  bridge.  "A  trifle  rising  of 
twelve  miles,"  was  the  reply,  which  put  a  damper  upon 
the  men's  hopes  of  rest  anywhere  but  on  the  tow-path 
that  night.  Horse-flesh  won.  One  by  one,  and  then 
squad  by  squad  the  exhausted  men  sank  upon  the  ground 
and  refused  to  go  farther,  until  the  little  plots  of  land 
which  occasionally  intervened  upon  the  river  side  were 
covered  with  the  stragglers.  Commanders  of  regiments 
were  left  without  the  colors  and  almost  without  men,  and 
finally  some  of  them  followed  the  example  of  the  men, 
until  when  the  general  had  arrived  at  his  goal  he  had 
hardly  men  enough  left  to  form  a  respectable  headquarters 
guard.-  In  the  morning  a  stream  of  men  poured  from  the 
tow-path  across  Monocacy  Aqueduct,  and  when  a  good 
portion  of  the  division  had  been  collected  together  the 
march  was  resumed,  the  bivouac  that  night  being  not  far 
from  Point  of  Rocks. 

On  Sunday,  the  twenty -eighth,  while  passing  through 
Frederick  we  heard  with  sorrow  that  Gen.  HOOKER  had 
been  relieved  of  the  command  of  the  army,  and  that  Gen. 
MEADE  had  been  assigned  to  the  position.  But  the  men 
were  not  of  that  stamp  to  let  their  prejudices  and  feelings 


136  SECOND   N.    H.   REGIMENT. 

work  upon  their  efficiency,  and  they  ever  yielded  to  Gen. 
MEADE  a  hearty  support.  The  regiment  passed  and 
loudly  cheered  its  old  commander,  MARSTON,  upon  whose 
shoulders  shone  the  stars  of  a  general. 

On  the  first  day  of  July,  the  brigade  arrived  at  Em- 
mettsburg,  a  large  village  near  the  Pennsylvania  line,  the 
business  portion  of  which  had  been  consumed  a  few  days 
before  by  an  incendiary  fire.  It  was  on  this  day  that  the 
battle  of  Gettysburg  was  begun,  when  the  First  Corps 
and  a  portion  of  the  Eleventh  encountered  the  rebels  in 
and  about  the  city  of  Gettysburg  in  the  severe  fight  which 
cost  Gen.  REYNOLDS  his  life.  Squads  of  our  men  went 
out  into  the  country,  many  of  them  "over  the  border" 
into  Pennsylvania,  buying  bread,  eggs,  harn,  and  anything 
which  the  Dutch  farmers  of  the  region  could  be  induced 
to  spare  from  their  larders,  while  those  who  remained  in 
camp  pitched  the  shelter  tents,  dug  ditches  around  them, 
and  collected  beds  of  pine  boughs  upon  which  to  rest  their 
weary  limbs.  The  foragers  scoured  the  country  so  thor 
oughly  that  soon  not  a  loaf  of  bread  could  be  bought 
within  five  miles  of  camp  for  either  love  or  money ;  but 
the  men  displayed  their  greenbacks  so  liberally  as  to 
arouse  the  avarice  of  the  Dutch  farmers  to  an  uncontrol 
lable  degree,  and  while  their  stout  wives  went  vigorously 
to  work  mixing  dough,  they  brought  forth  the  "  Dutch 
ovens,"  or  built  big  fires  in  the  brick  ones,  promising  the 
men  that  they  should  have  bread  in  any  quantity  in  the 
morning.  Many  of  the  men  paid  in  advance,  so  as  to 
make  sure  of  their  share,  but  the  brigade  was  far  away 
before  the  next  morning,  leaving  the  disconsolate  Dutch 
farmers  with  bread  enough  upon  their  hands  to  last  their 
families  for  many  weeks. 


CHAPTER     XVI. 


THE      BATTLE      OF      GETTYSBURG. 


T  two  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the 
second  day  of  July,  1863,  we  were 
routed  from  the  quarters  we  had  so 
carefully  prepared,  and  the  brigade  set 
off  through  the  darkness  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Gettysburg.  Tramp,  tramp, 
and  splash,  splash,  we  kept  our  way, 
halting  a  few  minutes  at  sunrise  to 
rest  and  cook  coffee,  and  early  in  the 
forenoon  we  arrived  upon  the  field 
which  will  ever  be  so  memorable. 
Our  sharpshooters,  scattered  along  in  the  fields  to  the  left 
of  the  road  upon  which  we  marched,  told  us  that  the 
entire  rebel  army  lay  in  and  beyond  the  woods,  within 
rifle  shot.  Screened  from  our  observation  LEE  was  mov 
ing  his  troops  into  position  for  the  approaching  fight, 
rapidly  extending  his  lines  towards  his  right,  opposite  our 
left;  and,  in  fact,  half  an  hour  after  we  had  passed  up 
the  Emmet tsburg  pike,  a  rebel  line  of  battle  was  formed 

Qf- 


138  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

across  it,  which  would  have  given  us  a  warm  and  unex 
pected  reception  had  we  been  a  little  later. 

The  brigade  joined  the  corps,  and  participated  in  the 
movements  preliminary  to  the  grand  final  struggle.  Al 
though  at  first  marched  to  a  point  almost  in  front  of  the 
town  of  Gettysburg,  we  gradually  worked  our  way  back 
in  the  direction  from  which  we  had  come,  until  the  brig 
ade  lay  massed  in  a  little  grove  at  the  foot  of  the  ridge 
upon  which  the  Third  Corps  was  soon  to  make  the  last 
and  most  desperate  of  all  its  fights  as  a  corps,  for  but  a 
few  weeks  afterwards  it  was  incorporated  into  the  Second 
Corps  as  a  division,  and  the  number  of  the  glorious  old 
"  THIRD"  disappeared  from  the  rolls  of  the  army,  although 
the  men  still  proudly  wore  upon  their  hats  the  diamond 
which  had  been  to  them  so  proud  an  emblem.  The  re 
ports  of  the  skirmishers'  rifles  were  now  occasionally 
heard,  and  to  "draw  out"  the  enemy,  the  brigade,  still 
closed  in  mass,  was  advanced  up  the  slope  into  the  open 
field.  A  rebel  battery  almost  immediately  opened  with 
shell,  and  for  a  few  moments  the  pieces  whistled  about  in 
a  Lively  manner,  one  of  which  struck  the  staff  which  sup 
ported  the  colors  of  the  Second  and  broke  it  in  twain,  at 
the  same  time  wounding  several  men  of  the  color  guard. 

The  object  of  the  movement  accomplished,  the  brigade 
was  withdrawn  to  the  grove,  while  a  battery  of  brass 
pieces,  going  into  position  in  gallant  style,  rapidly  replied 
to  the  rebel  guns.  Col.  BERLIN,  commanding  the  brig 
ade,  in  a  few  words  informed  the  men  that  they  were  to 
double  -  quick  by  the  flank  to  the  rear  of  the  battery  and 
take  their  respective  positions  in  the  line  of  battle.  Upon 
the  crest  of  the  ridge  was  an  orchard  of  small  peach  trees, 
in  which  was  stationed  one  of  our  batteries,  six  broad- 


BATTLE    OF    GETTYSBURG.  139 

mouthed  brass  pieces,  bellowing  and  thundering  in  re 
sponse  to  the  rebel  guns,  which  were  pouring  in  a  mur 
derous  fire  of  shell  and  spherical  case.  The  Second  Reg 
iment  was  ordered  to  report  to  Gen.  GRAHAM,  and  by  him 
was  placed  in  support  of  this  battery.  Company  B,  whose 
position  in  the  line  was  upon  the  left,  was  transferred  to 
the  right  that  its  Sharp's  rifles  might  be  made  most  avail 
able  in  case  of  an  infantry  attack  from  that  direction. 
Never,  in  all  its  history,  was  the  regiment  exposed  to  such 
a  terrific  artillery  fire  as  it  received  while  lying  upon  the 
ground  to  the  rear  of  this  battery.  The  air  was  fairly 
alive  with  bursting  shell  and  whistling  canister;  the 
leaves  fell  in  showers  from  the  peach  trees,  and  the  dirt 
was  .thrown  up  in  little  jets  where  the  missiles  were  con 
tinually  striking.  But  the  gunners  worked  their  guns 
bravely  and  without  flinching,  and  when  the  rolls  of  our 
companies  were  called  while  men  were  being  struck  from 
the  ranks  every  moment,  only  eight  men  of  the  whole 
regiment  were  missing  from  their  places.  A  stream  of 
wounded  was  constantly  pouring  to  the  rear,  some  shells 
skimming  along  the  ground  and  wounding  as  many  as 
half  a  dozen  men  in  their  course.  One  shell  struck 
square  upon  the  cartridge  -  box  of  Corporal  THOMAS  BIG- 
NALL,  of  Company  C,  driving  the  cartridges  into  his  body, 
where  they  exploded  one  after  the  other,  with  a  popping 
like  that  of  a  bunch  of  fire -crackers.  The  next  moment 
three  men  were  wounded  in  Company  I,  and  another  car 
tridge-box  exploded,  that  of  Sergeant  JAMES  M.  HOUSE, 
and  thus  it  continued  for  nearly  two  hours,  until  many  a 
vacant  place  was  made  in  the  ranks  of  the  regiment. 
During  this  time  the  conflict  was  also  going  on  upon  the 
right,  on  Cemetery  Hill,  and  to  the  left,  where  nearly  a 


140  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

mile  distant  we  could  see  one  of  our  batteries  belching 
forth  its  contents  from  the  rocky  summit  of  "  Little  Round 
Top"  into  the  woods  below,  through  which  the  rebels 
were  struggling  in  their  efforts  to  turn  our  left. 

At  half -past  four  in  the  afternoon  the  volunteer  battery 
we  had  supported,  after  having  done  its  duty  manfully, 
was  relieved  by  a  regular  battery  of  rifled  guns.  The 
regulars  did  not  serve  their  guns  with  the  same  spirit 
which  had  characterized  the  volunteers,  and  the  difference 
was  soon  painfully  apparent  from  the  increased  fire  of  the 
rebel  guns.  Their  infantry  also  began  to  show  themselves 
in  large  bodies,  advancing  from  the  woods  behind  which 
it  had  been  screened,  to  capture  our  batteries.  Our  skir 
mishers  came  pouring  in,  and  so  near  did  the  rebels  ap 
proach  that  a  lieutenant  of  the  battery  to  our  front  spiked 
his  guns,  expecting  they  would  soon  be  captured.  Col. 
BAILEY,  commanding  the  regiment,  pointed  out  the  state 
of  affairs  to  Gen.  GRAHAM,  and  requested  permission  for 
the  regiment  to  charge  and  check  the  advance.  It  was 
given,  and  springing  to  their  feet  the  men  rushed  forward, 
shouting  and  cheering,  passing  by  the  guns  of  the  battery 
and  down  through  the  peach  orchard.  A  line  of  the  ene 
my  was  encountered  which  would  not  stand  the  deter 
mined  charge,  but  fled  pellmell  and  took  refuge  in  a  ravine 
which  traversed  the  plain  to  our  front.  The  regiment 
was  halted  near  the  Emmettsburg  road,  and  there  it  made 
as  determined  a  fight  as  was  ever  made  upon  any  field. 
The  enemy's  artillery  was  served  vigorously  and  at  short 
range ;  the  line  we  had  driven  maintained  a  hot  fire  from 
the  ravine  where  they  were  sheltered  ;  two  regiments  were 
moving  across  the  fields  by  the  flank  about  three  hundred 
yards  to  the  front;  and  from  the  woods  a  whole  brigade 


BATTLE    OF    GETTYSBURG.  141, 

of  rebels  was  advancing  upon  the  Sixty  -  Third  Pennsylva 
nia,  formed  upon  the  right  of  the  Second.  The  two 
regiments  marching  by  the  flank  were  soon  disposed  of, 
being  forced  to  flee  in  confusion,  but  the  brigade  advanc 
ing  upon  the  right  steadily  maintained  its  course.  The 
Second,  unmindful  of  the  scattering  shots  upon  its  own 
front,  turned  its  attention  to  this  threatening  advance,  and 
poured  in.  a  brisk  fire  to  the  right  oblique.  But  this  had 
no  effect  to  stay  the  march  of  the  dense  mass  of  rebels, 
which  approached  nearer  and  nearer,  its  front  blazing  with 
flame  and  wreathed  in  smoke,  while  the  rebel  artillery 
poured  in  canister  with  redoubled  vigor.  By  the  right  of 
the  regiment  was  an  old  farm  house,  behind  which  a  num 
ber  of  Company  B's  men  stationed  themselves,  many  be 
ing  wounded,  and,  as  sharpshooters,  devoted  their  especial 
attention  to  the  colors  of  the  advancing  brigade.  Color - 
bearer  after  color -bearer  was  shot  down  by  the  unerring 
riflemen,  who  kept  popping  away  until  forced  to  abandon 
their  position  by  the  proximity  of  the  rebels. 

The  regiment  upon  our  right  could  not  withstand  the 
shock,  but  gave  way,  and  at  the  same  time  the  regiment 
upon  the  left  about  -  faced  and  marched  to  the  rear  in  good 
order.  For  the  Second  Regiment  longer  to  maintain  its 
position  \vould  have  been  madness,  and  the  orders  were 
given  to  fall  back,  which  was  done  rapidly  but  without 
panic  or  undue  haste,  the  men  constantly  facing  about 
and  discharging  their  pieces  into  the  ranks  of  the  yelling 
enemy. 

The  wounded  men  who  had  been  sharpshooting  behind 
the  old  house,  when  the  rebels  were  close  upon  them 
scrambled  down  a  rollway  into  the  cellar,  and  called  to  a 
man  from  another  regiment  who  sat  beside  it  to  come  in 


142  SECOND   N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

and  shut  down  the  cover.  Had  he  done  so  they  would 
probably  have  escaped  undiscovered,  as  the  ground  was 
occupied  not  long  after  by  Union  troops ;  but  the  stupid 
fool  sat  as  if  paralyzed  until  the  rebels  came  pouring  by 
the  house,  when  he  discovered  the  hiding  place  to  them 
by  exclaiming,  "Here  we  are;  we  are  all  in  here." 
Then,  of  course,  there  was  no  escape,  and  the  men  were 
obliged  to  crawl  forth,  and  take  up  their  long  and  weary 
march  to  Richmond  as  prisoners  of  war. 

The  ground  was  covered  with  the  wounded  and  dead, 
for  so  near  were  the  rebels  upon  us  that  the  worst  shot  in 
the  army  could  not  well  have  missed  his  mark.  Gen. 
GRAHAM  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  Gen. 
SICKLES,  who  dashed  up  to  the  position  amid  the  terrific 
fire,  had  his  leg  shattered  by  a  piece  of  shell.  Arriving 
at  the  top  of  the  ridge,  the  regiment  was  halted  and 
about-faced,  and  the  line  hastily  reformed.  But  its  num 
ber  had  been  so  terribly  reduced  that  it  could  not  stem 
the  torrent,  and  it  was  again  forced  to  fall  back  beyond 
the  point  where  it  had  laid  when  supporting  the  battery. 

At  this  portion  of  the  line  the  rebels  had  gained  a  tem 
porary  advantage,  and  the  Third  Corps,  for  the  first  time 
in  its  history,  had  been  worsted  —  not  by  any  lack  of  skill 
in  its  generals  or  of  valor  in  the  men,  but  by  the  mere 
weight  of  the  numbers  which  were  hurled  upon  it.  Some 
ungenerous  partisans  of  other  corps  (newspaper  men,  for 
none  were  more  willing  to  do  honor  to  the  bravery  of  oth 
ers  than  the  soldiers,)  took  the  occasion  to  cast  a  sneer  at 
the  corps,  but  we  will  only  remind  such  that  upon  the 
Third  Corps  fell  the  brunt  of  LEE'S  attack ;  and  when  the 
grumblers  will  point  out  an  instance  where  a  single  corps 
during  the  whole  war  lost  over  half  its  men  in  a  single 


BATTLE    OF   GETTYSBURG.  143 

fight,  as  did  the  Third,  on  this  occasion,  to  them  we  will 
cheerfully  award  the  honors  due. 

The  break  thus  made  in  the  lines  was  quickly  mended, 
for  portions  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  and  other  troops  who  had 
been  repulsing  the  rebel  attacks  upon  the  right  of  the 
army,  were  hastily  crossed  from  that  portion  of  the  lines 
and  thrown  into  the  breach,  and  most  of  the  lost  ground 
was  speedily  recovered.  The  sun  went  down  that  night 
upon  a  discomfitted  rebel  army,  beaten  at  every  portion 
of  the  lines,  and  the  tide  of  invasion  was  thus  turned 
back  from  the  North  almost  before  it  had  gained  a  foot 
hold. 

The  Second  Regiment  when  it  rejoined  its  brigade  that 
night  was  but  a  sad  remnant  of  what  it  had  been  in  the 
morning  when  it  went  so  proudly  forth  to  battle.  When 
the  rolls  were  called  under  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  artil 
lery,  twenty -four  officers  and  three  hundred  and  thirty 
men  had  responded  to  their  names.  Of  these  nineteen 
had  been  shot  dead  upon  the  field,  one  hundred  and 
thirty -six  had  been  wounded,  and  thirty -eight  were  miss 
ing —  nearly  all  reported  in  the  latter  class  being  wounded 
and  prisoners  or  killed.  The  loss  was  particularly  severe 
in  officers.  Every  one  of  the  field  officers  was  wounded, 
Col.  BAILEY  and  Lieut.  Col.  CARR  slightly;  and  Maj. 
SAYLES,  with  a  bullet  through  his  thigh,  was  left  upon 
the  field  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  but  being  disabled 
by  his  wound  he  was  not  carried  off  as  a  prisoner.  Capt. 
HENRY  N.  METGALF,  of  Company  F,  Lieut.  GEORGE  W. 
ROBERTS,  of  Company  C,  Lieut.  WILLIAM  W.  BALLARD, 
of  Company  B,  and  Lieut.  EDMUND  DASCOMB,  of  Com 
pany  G,  were  shot  dead.  Capt.  JOSEPH  A.  HUBBARD, 
of  Company  B,  was  shot  in  the  forehead;  he  wandered 


144  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

into  the  rebel  lines,  where  he  lived  for  some  two  hours, 
and  being  identified  as  a  Mason  he  was  buried  by  rebel 
members  of  the  fraternity  and  his  grave  so  marked  that 
it  was  recognized  by  our  men  after  the  retreat.  The 
day  after  the  fight  members  of  his  company  who  were 
prisoners  were  told  by  their  guards  of  a  handsome  Yankee 
captain  who  had  strayed  into  their  lines  and  there  died. 
In  the  description  given  the  men  recognized  their  captain, 
and  upon  one  of  them  showing  the  guard  a  photograph  of 
Capt.  HUBBARD,  he  recognized  it  immediately  as  that  of 
the  dead  Yankee  captain.  Lieut.  CHARLES  VICKERT,  of 
Company  I,  was  mortally  wounded,  and  remained  in  the 
hands  of  the  rebels  until  they  retreated,  when  he  was 
taken  to  our  hospital,  where  he  died  on  the  eighth. 
Lieut.  CHARLES  N.  PATCH,  of  Company  K,  was  wounded 
in  the  abdomen  and  died  on  the  tenth.  Lieut.  ALBERT 
M.  PERKINS,  of  Company  D,  and  Lieut.  LEVI  N.  CON 
VERSE,  of  Company  A,  lost  each  an  arm,  and  in  addition 
to  those  mentioned  eight  other  officers  were  wounded. 
This  was  the  heaviest  loss  the  regiment  ever  sustained 
upon  any  one  field.  A  total  of  one  hundred  and  ninety  - 
three  out  of  three  hundred  and  fifty -four. 

On  Saturday,  the  third,  there  was  some  fighting,  mostly 
by  artillery,  although  upon  the  right  the  infantry  was  oc 
casionally  hotly  engaged.  In  the  afternoon  our  brigade 
supported  a  battery,  but  the  regiment  lost  no  men. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifth  the  brigade  was  sent  out 
upon  picket,  but  the  rebel  army  had  retreated,  and  we 
returned  to  our  bivouac.  Many  of  our  wounded  had  re 
mained  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels  for  three  days,  receiving 
but  little  if  any  care,  and  our  dead  were  as  yet  unburied. 
A  detail  was  made  from  the  brigade  to  go  out  to  the  Peach 


BATTLE    OF    GETTYSBURG.  145 

Orchard,  bury  the  dead  and  bring  in  such  wounded  as 
could  be  found.  The  detachment,  under  command  of 
Lieut.  Col.  CARR,  of  the  Second,  had  started  out  upon  its 
errand  of  mercy,  when  a  peremptory  order  arrived  from 
the  general  commanding  the  division,  ordering  it  to 
return  immediately  to  the  brigade.  This  the  men  were 
exceedingly  averse  to  doing,  and  while  the  body  of  the 
detachment  was  obliged  to  return,  many  of  them  bade 
defiance  to  the  orders  of  the  division  general,  and  went 
with  stretchers  upon  the  field  to  give  succor  to  their  man 
gled,  suffering  comrades.  Many  of  these  unfortunates 
were  thus  rescued,  but  our  dead  were  interred  by  burial 
parties  from  other  regiments,  and  many  a  body  which 
might  have  been  recognized  now  sleeps  in  an  unknown 
grave. 

The  New  Hampshire  wounded  in  the  hospitals  will 
never  forget  the  promptness  with  which  substantial  aid 
and  comfort  reached  them  from  their  native  State.  Prompt 
with  the  news  of  the  battle,  a  body  of  devoted  men  left  the 
State  upon  their  errand  of  mercy,  and  to  their  untiring  ef 
forts  in  the  hospitals  many  a  soldier  is  indebted  for  his  life, 
while  the  pathway  of  others  to  the  grave  was  smoothed 
by  the  thought  that  they  were  surrounded  by  friends  who 
would  sincerely  mourn  their  loss  and  carry  their  last  words 
to  the  loved  ones  among  the  mountains  of  the  Old  Granite 
State. 

In  this  connection  we  must  not  omit  to  mention  one 
without  whose  name  no  history  of  the  Second  Regiment 
would  be  complete  —  Miss  HARRIET  DAME,  of  Concord. 
Following  the  fortunes  of  the  regiment,  her  services  in 
the  hospitals  had  been  of  the  most  important  character. 
Unceasing  and  untiring  in  her  attentions  to  the  sick  and 


146  SECOND    N.   H.    REGIMENT. 

wounded,  many  a  soldier's  heart  will  warm  at  the  very 
mention  of  her  name,  as  he  calls  to  mind  her  womanly 
ministrations  over  the  cot  where  he  lay  racked  with  pain. 
In  the  hospitals  at  Gettysburg,  as  ever  before,  she  was 
indeed  a  ministering  angel,  and  we  are  ready  to  say,  with 
hundreds  of  others,  who  received  the  benefits  of  her  good 
ness,  "God  bless  her!" 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


THE     PURSUIT      OF     LEE. 


EN.  LEE,  with  his  shattered  hordes, 
rapidly  retreated  toward  the  Potomac, 
followed  by  our  army,  which  was  in 
the  highest  spirits,  and  confident  that 
he  could  never  reach  Virginia  soil. 
Reinforcements  of  new  troops  were 
constantly  arriving  for  our  army,  until 
it  actually  numbered  more  than  be 
fore  the  battle.  One  entire  division 
was  added  to  our  corps,  composed  of 
new  regiments,  and  forming  the  larg 
est  division  in  the  corps.  Our  cavalry  was  constantly 
pouncing  down  upon  the  wagon  trains  of  the  rebels,  and 
a  portion  of  LEE'S  pontoon  train,  invaluable  to  him  in 
crossing  the  Potomac,  was  captured  and  destroyed. 

Over  the  hills  and  through  the  beautiful  valleys  of 
Maryland  the  army  pressed  in  the  pursuit.  Our  division 
passed  through  Emmettsburg  and  Frederick  City,  over 
many  portions  of  the  Antietam  battle  field,  and  on  the 


148  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

twelfth,  with  the  entire  Army  of  the  Potomac,  confronted 
LEE  at  Williamsport,  who  had  been  brought  to  bay  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Potomac.  On  this  day  Gen.  MEADE 
issued  an  order  which  was  read  at  the  head  of  every  regi 
ment,  to  the  effect  that  he  was  about  to  attack  the  enemy, 
and  with  every  prospect  of  a  glorious  success.  The  men 
were  in  high  spirits  and  greeted  the  order  with  shouts  of 
joy.  They  were  ready,  they  said,  to  go  in  and  wind  up 
the  rebellion  by  putting  an  end  to  the  existence  of  LEE'S 
army,  its  head  and  front.  But  the  twelfth  passed  without 
an  advance  by  our  army,  as  did  also  the  thirteenth.  En 
trenchments  were  built  along  the  front,  and  heavy  guns 
brought  up  and  placed  in  position.  In  vain,  however, 
were  these  preparations,  for  LEE  was  improving  the  golden 
moments  of  delay,  and  by  Tuesday  morning,  the  four 
teenth,  most  of  his  army  was  safely  across  the  Potomac. 
Then  the  army  advanced  over  the  rough  breastworks  which 
the  rebels  had  erected,  while  KILPATRICK  charged  with  his 
cavalry  upon  the  enemy's  rear -guard,  and  captured  several 
hundred  prisoners.  But  the  rebel  army,  which  should 
have  been  totally  destroyed  here,  had  escaped,  and  nothing 
remained  but  for  us  to  follow  after  it  in  its  unob 
structed  course  toward  Richmond.  On  the  seventeenth 
the  division  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Harper's  Ferry,  be 
neath  the  shadow  of  the  overhanging  crags  which  towered 
for  hundreds  of  feet  above  the  narrow  road  between  their 
base  and  the  river. 

From  here  we  followed  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  through  one  of  the  most  beautiful  countries  the 
eye  of  man  ever  rested  upon.  "Pleasant  Valley,"  its 
name  surely  was  no  misnomer,  as  we  can  testify,  who, 
marching  along  our  elevated  roads  could  view  the  beauties 


PURSUIT    OF   LEE.  149 

of  the  landscape  for  miles  away  with  its  stretches  of 
woodland  and  green  fields,  its  little  streams  winding  about 
like  ribbons  of  silver,  and  its  lines  of  road,  dotted  here 
and  there  with  the  white  canvas  coverings  of  our  wagons, 
as  they  crawled  lazily  along. 

We  camped  for  two  days  near  Ashby's  Gap,  upon  the 
broad  fields  of  Upperville,  which  had  been  the  scene  of 
many  a  deadly  cavalry  struggle,  as  was  evidenced  by  the 
remains  of  horses  which  were  scattered  over  the  green 
plains  in  every  direction,  and  the  numerous  graves  where 
the  fiery  Southern  "Cavalier"  and  the  sturdy  Northern 
"  Roundhead"  slumbered  peacefully  side  by  side  upon  the 
same  spot  where  they  had  closed  with  each  other  in 
deadly  conflict. 

On  Thursday,  the  twenty  -  third,  the  corps  entered  Ma- 
nassas  Gap,  where  the  cavalry  under  Gen.  BUFOKD  had 
for  three  days  been  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  This 
pass,  several  miles  in  length,  offered  many  strong  defen 
sive  positions,  and  upon  the  steep  hills  commanding  the 
western  entrance  the  rebels  had  posted  themselves  in  con 
siderable  force,  to  cover  the  passage  of  their  wagon  trains 
down  the  Shenandoah.  The  cavalry  division  passed  to 
the  rear,  and  a  line  of  infantry  skirmishers  was  thrown  out, 
which  advanced  up  the  steep  sides  of  Wapping  Heights, 
rapidly  replying  to  the  fire  of  the  rebel  skirmishers  upon 
the  summit.  The  rebels  were  quickly  driven  from  the 
eminence*  and  the  whole  division  advanced,  the  Excelsior 
Brigade  commanded  by  Gen.  SPINOLA,  leading  in  line  of 
battle,  closely  followed  by  the  two  other  brigades,  closed 
in  mass  by  division.  The  height  from  which  the  rebels 
had  been  driven  was  soon  reached,  and  here  the  line 
halted  while  Gen.  MEADE  rode  up  and  from  the  command- 


150  SECOND    N.  II.    REGIMENT . 

ing  position,  where  the  whole  country  could  be  seen  for 
miles,  surveyed  the  field.  An  advance  of  the  whole  line 
was  again  ordered,  and  the  division  swept  down  the  rocky 
steep,  crashing  through  the  thick  brush  and  leveling  the 
rail  fences  which  obstructed  the  march.  A  ravine  was 
reached,  not  more  than  one  hundred  yards  wide,  with 
very  steep  sides  covered  with  huge  boulders  and  twining, 
creeping  vines.  Upon  the  opposite  side  a  body  of  rebel 
infantry  was  posted,  but  the  Excelsior  boys,  with  one  of 
their  peculiar  yells,  plunged  down  the  steep  bank,  led  by 
Gen.  SPINOLA  and  the  dare-devil  Col.  FARNHAM,  upon 
horseback,  and  followed  by  the  blue  mass  of  the  two  sup 
porting  brigades.  The  colors  were  shot  down,  and  SPI 
NOLA  and  FARNIIAM  severely  wounded ;  the  men  tripped 
upon  the  creeping  vines  and  sprawled  headlong  among  the 
rough  and  jagged  rocks,  but  the  charge  was  irresistible, 
and  the  rebel  line  fled  in  the  direction  of  Front  Royal. 
Night  was  now  approaching,  and  the  halt,  was  sounded. 
While  the  Excelsior  boys  with  the  instinct  of  old  soldiers 
hastily  erected  a  breastwork  but  a  few  inches  high,  the 
rest  of  the  division  remained  within  the  shelter  of  the 
ravine.  A  rebel  battery  opened  at  a  distance  of  five  hun. 
dred  yards,  and  the  pieces  of  shell  and  shrapnell  hummed 
about  in  a  lively  manner,  but  owing  to  the  conformation 
of  the  ground  our  batteries  could  not  well  be  brought  into 
action.  A  line  of  rebel  skirmishers  also  appeared  upon 
our  front,  within  rifle  shot,  but  at  dark  they  were  with 
drawn. 

The  next  morning,  the  rebels  having  withdrawn  from 
our  front,  an  early  advance  was  made  down  the  road  in  the 
direction  of  Front  Royal.  A  body  of  cavalry  led  the  way, 
followed  by  the  Second  Regiment  deployed  as  skirmish- 


PURSUIT   OF   LEE.  151 

ers.  The  road  was  strewn  with  bunches  of  cartridges 
and  fragments  of  letters  and  papers  which  had  been  torn 
up  by  the  rebels,  and  the  long  line,  extending  far  out 
upon  either  side  of  the  road,  continually  encountered  rebel 
stragglers,  who  had  fallen  from  the  ranks  for  the  purpose 
of  being  taken.  When  within  a  mile  of  Front  Royal  a 
smart  skirmishing  fire  was  heard  in  advance,  and  a  caval 
ryman  who  came  riding  back  told  us  that  there  were  any 
quantity  of  rebels  in  and  about  the  town,  with  whom  the 
cavalry  were  having  a  hot  time.  A  little  round -topped 
hill  intervened  between  us  and  the  town,  behind  which 
we  could  hear  the  brisk  popping  of  carbines  as  we  ad 
vanced.  We  halted  near  this  hill,  in  a  position  where  the 
left  of  the  line  could  observe  all  the  movements  of  the 
cavalry  and  of  the  enemy.  We  were  opened  upon  by  a 
rebel  battery,  but  when  one  of  our  batteries  went  into 
position  to  reply  the  rebel  guns  became  silent.  Two  of 
our  cavalry  skirmishers  rode  up  the  steep  hill  to  the  left 
of  the  town  across  a  field  where  the  grain  had  been  cut 
and  placed  in  shocks,  behind  which  several  rebels  were 
concealed,  who  suddenly  commenced  popping  away  at  the 
invaders.  An  about-face  was  executed  by  the  cavalry 
men  with  amazing  celerity,  and  we  venture  the  assertion 
that  never  was  more  furious  riding  exhibited  than  on  this 
occasion,  the  horses  leaping  the  highest  fences  and  broad 
est  ditches  until  the  foot  of  the  hill  was  reached. 

Gen.  WARREN  came  riding  down  the  road,  attended  by 
a  single  orderly,  and  halted  at  our  skirmish  line,  "I 
wish  to  speak  to  some  officer,"  he  exclaimed,  and  Capt. 
GORDON  stepped  forward.  "A  squad  of  cavalry  will  be 
here  soon  —  my  escort — and  you  will  direct  them  down 
the  road  I  take.  They  will  inquire  for  Gen.  WARREN." 


152  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

These  were  the  directions  of  the  little  brigadier,  and  then 
he  rode  down  towards  the  spot  where  the  skirmishing  was 
going  on.  Soon  after  we  also  advanced,  but  the  rebels 
retreated,  and  the  pursuit  was  not  followed  beyond  the 
town,  the  troops  returning  to  the  Gap  that  afternoon. 

The  next  day  the  corps  made  a  march  of  about  fifteen 
miles,  passing  through  the  pleasant  village  of  Salem,  and 
early  on  the  morning  of  the  twenty -sixth  we  arrived  at 
Warrenton,  where  a  most  agreeable  surprise  awaited  us. 
Gen.  MARSTON  was  there  with  all  necessary  authority  for 
detaching  the  Second,  Twelfth  and  Fifth  New  Hampshire 
regiments  from  the  army,  with  which  to  form  a  brigade 
for  duty  at  Point  Lookout,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Potomac, 
where  the  government  was  about  to  establish  a  great  gen 
eral  depot  for  prisoners  of  war.  It  was  with  light  hearts 
that  we  took  the  cars  for  Alexandria,  and  were  whirled 
through  Warrenton  Junction  and  Manassas,  —  scenes  so 
familiar,  —  and  away  from  the  Army  of  the.  Potomac. 

We  did  not  arrive  in  Alexandria  until  late  at  night, 
and  the  men  improved  every  little  halt  or  delay  of  the 
train  to  cook  their  coffee  —  the  article  of  a  soldier's  diet. 
No  sooner  would  the  train  stop  than  the  men,  leaping 
from  the  cars,  would  kindle  little  fires  with  a  dispatch 
which  none  but  soldiers  could  equal,  over  which  they 
held  their  cups  until  the  train  started,  when  there  would 
be  a  scramble  for  the  cars,  and  at  the  next  halt  the  same 
movements  would  be  repeated,  and  so  on  until  the  coffee 
was  made.  Talk  of  perseverance  while  laboring  under 
difficulties  !  If  ever  there  was  such  a  thing,  it  was  well 
illustrated  by  the  soldiers  that  day,  some  of  whom  kin 
dled  half  a  dozen  different  fires  at  as  many  points  along 
the  road  before  their  coffee  was  made  palatable. 


PURSUIT   OF   LEE.  153 

That  night  we  inarched  from  the  cars,  in  Alexandria, 
about  two  miles  towards  Long  Bridge,  and  went  into 
bivouac  with  the  consciousness  that  we  might  sleep  with 
both  eyes  shut,  for  there  were  no  rebels  near  to  turn  us 
out  by  demonstrations  along  the  picket  line. 


CIIAPTEE     XV  III. 


POINT       LOOKOUT. 


UARDING  a  squad  of  some  three 
hundred  rebel  prisoners,  the  Second 
and  Twelfth  Regiments  remained  in 
Washington  two  days,  quartered  at 
the  "Soldiers'  Rest."  Some  of  these 
were  natives  of  Washington,  and  re 
ceived  visits  from  their  relatives  and 
friends,  who  brought  them  clothing 
and  other  articles  which  they  had  left 
behind  when  going  into  the  rebel 
army,  but  were  likely  to  stand  in 
need  of  during  their  stay  with  us  as  prisoners  of  war. 
"It  is  mighty  hard  to  be  held  a  prisoner  here  in  my  own 
city,"  exclaimed  one  of  these  in  conversation  with  a 
guard.  "If  you  had  remained  at  home  in  your  own  city 
you  would  never  have  been  a  prisoner,"  was  the  response, 
which  the  rebel  could  not  well  gainsay.  Among  the 
number  was  an  Irishman  who  was  well  acquainted  with 
many  of  our  boys,  having  lived  in  Manchester  and  Con- 


POINT   LOOKOUT.  155 

cord  some  years  before  the  war.  His  story  was,  that 
being  South  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  he  had  been 
forced  into  the  rebel  service,  from  which  he  had  taken  the 
first  opportunity  to  desert.  An  old  story;  the  stereo 
typed  tale  of  thousands  of  demoralized  deserters. 

At  nine  o'clock,  on  the  morning  of  the  thirty -first  of 
July,  1863,  the  Second  and  Twelfth  (the  Fifth  had  not 
then  joined  us)  landed  at  Point  Lookout,  with  the  squad 
of  prisoners  we  had  been  guarding  in  Washington,  and 
thus  laid  the  foundation  of  the  great  depot  for  prisoners 
for  which  the  place  afterwards  became  famous. 

The  Point  was  admirably  adapted  for  the  purpose  for 
which  it  had  been  chosen :  a  long,  narrow  finger  of  land, 
with  the  Potomac  upon  one  side  and  the  Chesapeake  upon 
the  other,  and  connected  with  the  main -land  by  a  sand 
bar  scarcely  two  rods  in  width.  A  comparatively  small 
force  of  troops  was  necessary  to  guard  the  prisoners,  as 
the  gunboats,  of  which  there  were  sometimes  as  many  as 
a  dozen  about,  could  have  poured  in  a  fire  from  all  sides 
which  would  have  annihilated  the  rebels  in  case  of  an 
uprising. 

On  the  second  of  August,  at  dress  parade,  "General 
Orders,  No.  1,"  was  read,  in  which  Gen.  MAHSTON  as 
sumed  command  of  the  "  District  of  St.  Mary's."  A 
routine  of  duty  was  established  for  the  troops,  and  twenty 
men  were  detailed  from  the  Second  and  Twelfth,  to  serve 
as  mounted  scouts.  Their  business  was  to  scour  the 
country  about,  the  counties  of  St.  Mary's  and  Charles,  to 
observe  suspicious  movements,  and  ferret  out  the  smug 
glers  who  were  continually  crossing  over  into  Virginia 
during  the  night.  Their  labors  were  occasionally  re 
warded  by  the  discovery  of  a  boat  -  full  of  salt  or  other 


156  SECOND   N.  II .  REGIMENT. 

articles  valuable  in  Dixie,  carefully  concealed  in  some 
secluded  creek,  awaiting  a  favorable  opportunity  for  run 
ning  the  line  of  gunboats  on  the  river. 

To  say  that  we  enjoyed  ourselves  in  our  new  camp 
would  but  feebly  express  our  feelings  —  we  were  in  the 
seventh  heaven  of  the  soldier's  paradise.  Poets  may  sing 
of  the  soldier's  longing  for  the  battle  tumult,  the  fierce 
charge  and  the  sturdy  stand,  but  we  know  that  after  they 
have  had  their  turn  at  these,  nothing  is  more  grateful  than 
to  be  placed  in  such  a  camp  as  we  were  in  at  Point  Look 
out.  The  facilities  for  bathing,  for  fishing  and  for  boating 
were  unbounded,  and  Gen.  MARSTOX,  knowing  that  he 
could  trust  the  men  in  his  command,  allowed  us  as  wide  a 
range  of  privileges  as  the  most  liberal  construction  of 
military  rules  and  discipline  would  permit.  The  men 
when  not  upon  duty  were  given  passes  to  visit  St.  Mary's, 
Leonardstown  and  "The  Pines,"  all  little  villages  a  few 
miles  above,  and  some  of  them  improved  their  opportu 
nities  so  well  that  certain  daughters  of  rabid  old  seces 
sionists  were  induced  to  forego  their  traditional  hatred  of 
the  Yankees,  and  even  to  marry  members  of  the  pro 
scribed  race. 

The  men  collected  boats  from  the  coast  above,  most 
of  them  "dug-outs,"  until  the  beach  by  the  camp  was 
lined  with  the  little  boats.  The  men  soon  became  very 
expert  in  the  management  of  these  frail  crafts,  and  would 
venture  in  them  out  upon  the  river  or  even  round  into  the 
bay  in  the  roughest  weather.  Those  acquainted  with 
them  know  that  of  all  boats  a  dug  -  out  is  the  most  un 
manageable,  yet  a  capsize  was  of  very  rare  occurrence. 
Three  of  our  men,  enterprising  experimenters,  fitted  a 
keel  upon  one  of  these  craft,  and  setting  a  sail  large 


POINT   LOOKOUT.  157 

enough  for  a  boat  of  twice  its  size,  ventured  out  into  the 
bay  with  a  stiff  breeze.  Everything  went  swimmingly 
for  a  few  minutes,  when  with  a  sudden  lurch  the  boat 
capsized  and  left  the  three  luckless  adventurers  flounder 
ing  "on  the  ocean  wave,"  until  rescued  by  a  gunboat 
which  happened  to  be  in  the  vicinity. 

Within  a  stone's  throw  of  camp,  in  the  river,  were 
enormous  oyster  beds,  from  which  boat -load  after  boat 
load  of  luscious  bivalves  were  taken,  the  men  improvising 
oyster  rakes  for  that  purpose ;  and  in  the  proper  season  a 
score  of  little  schooners  were  daily  engaged  in  dredging 
to  supply  the  Washington  and  Baltimore  markets. 

Bodies  of  prisoners  soon  began  to  arrive,  sometimes  in 
small  squads  and  often  hundreds  at  a  time,  until  there 
were  several  thousand  to  guard.  As  the  prisoners'  camp 
increased  in  size,  a  larger  number  of  guards  was  required, 
until  half  the  men  were  on  guard  each  day,  and  oftentimes 
standing  upon  their  post  twelve  hours  out  of  the  twenty  - 
four. 

The  discipline  and  rules  of  the  prisoners'  camp  were 
soon  established,  and  all  the  arrangements  were  charac 
terized  by  a  humanity  \vhich  formed  a  striking  contrast 
with  the  treatment  of  Union  prisoners  at  Belle  Isle,  at 
Millen  and  at  Andersonville.  Comfortable  tents  —  "Sib- 
ley"  and  "A"  —  such  as  we  received,  were  furnished  in 
sufficient  numbers  to  give  every  man  a  shelter ;  good 
rations,  of  the  same  quality  as  were  dealt  out  to  us,  were 
given  to  the  prisoners,  and  eight  houses  erected  with  am 
ple  accommodations  for  cooking.  The  camp  was  kept 
well  policed,  and  all  sanitary  measures  taken  necessary  to 
preserve  the  health  of  the  prisoners.  A  board  fence, 
about  twelve  feet  high,  was  erected  around  the  whole 


158  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

camp,  with  a  walk  upon  the  outside,  near  the  top,  for  the 
guard.  Capt.  JOAB  N.  PATTERSON  was  appointed  Pro 
vost  Marshal  of  the  district,  and  Capt.  GEOKGE  E.  SIDES, 
of  Company  K,  placed  in  command  of  the  camp.  The 
prisoners  were  organized  into  companies  of  one  hundred 
men,  over  each  of  which  one  of  their  number  was  placed 
as  sergeant. 

Confinement  in  a  palace  would  be  unendurable.  No 
one  will  dispute  this.  Then  it  cannot  be  wondered  at 
that  the  brains  of  our  rebel  prisoners  were  constantly  at 
work  devising  means  of  escape.  Not  one  in  ten  of  these 
schemes  \vas  crowned  with  success,  although  the  novelty 
of  some  should  have  insured  their  escape.  The  great 
conspiracy  was  discovered  in  February  of  1864,  which 
embraced  a  large  number  of  men,  and  for  which  great 
preparations  had  been  made.  Wind  was  got  of  the  con 
templated  movement,  and  measures  taken  to  prevent  it. 
The  Second  and  Twelfth  were  placed  under  arms,  and 
while  the  prisoners  were  all  marched  from  their  quarters 
a  thorough  search  was  made  through  every  tent.  Several 
muskets  were  discovered,  and  many  bunks  were  found  to 
be  little  boats,  constructed  of  pieces  of  boards,  with  oar 
locks  cut  in  the  sides  and  the  cracks  filled  with  grease 
and  soap  so  as  to  render  them  wrater  -  tight.  Oars  and 
paddles  were  also  found,  all  of  which  were  destroyed  by 
the  relentless  Yankees. 

The  individual  enterprises  in  this  line  were  common, 
some  attempting  to  tunnel  out,  some  to  bribe  the  guards, 
and  others  to  secrete  themselves  when  outside  the  camp 
for  firewood  or  with  working  parties.  Two  of  this  latter 
class  were  observed  to  crawl  under  a  house  one  evening 
when  their  party  was  returning  to  camp.  The  officer  of 


POINT    LOOKOUT.  159 

the  guard  posted  half  a  dozen  men  near  by,  with  orders 
to  watch  till  the  concealed  rebels,  thinking  the  coast  clear, 
should  crawl  out  from  their  hiding  place,  and  then  to 
fire  and  give  them  a  good  fright,  but  not  to  injure 
either  of  them.  In  the  evening  the  heads  of  the  two 
prisoners  appeared,  carefully  reconnoitering  the  ground, 
when  half  a  dozen  rifles  cracked  and  as  many  bullets 
whistled  within  a  few  inches  of  their  ears.  Neither  of 
them  were  wounded,  but  they  were  both  terribly  fright 
ened,  and  made  piteous  appeals  to  our  boys  not  to  shoot 
again,  as  they  were  perfectly  willing  to  give  up  beaten. 
This  little  affair  had  a  good  effect  upon  the  prisoners  in 
camp,  giving  them  the  idea  that  we  kept  a  heavy  and 
vigilant  guard  outside  of  their  camp  as  well  as  in. 

To  pass  away  time  and  as  a  source  of  revenue,  the 
rebels  manufactured  rings,  bosom -pins,  watch-chains 
and  an  immense  variety  of  other  trinkets,  from  bone  and 
gutta  percha,  which  they  sold  to  our  men,  and  also  many 
other  articles  which  displayed  a  high  degree  of  ingenuity. 
One  man  manufactured  a  clock  which  kept  excellent  time, 
the  front  and  back  being  made  of  the  sides  of  a  tin  can 
teen;  and  another  man  built  a  stationary  steam-engine, 
perfect  in  all  its  parts.  An  important  branch  of  industry 
was  brick  -  making.  Every  sunny  day  scores  of  the 
men  might  be  seen  kneading  the  clay  and  sand,  filling 
little  square  boxes  with  the  mixture  and  dumping  it  on 
the  ground  to  dry  in  the  sun.  Some  of  the  most  enter 
prising  made  enough  of  these  bricks  to  build  themselves 
little  adobe  houses,  and  sold  many  to  our  men  at  fifty  cents 
a  hundred  to  build  chimneys  in  our  own  camp. 

Gambling,  however,  was  the  chief  occupation,  and 
scores  of  professional  sharpers  set  up  their  establishments 


160  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

and  worked  with  as  much  zeal  to  cheat  their  unfortunate 
comrades  out  of  a  chew  of  tobacco  —  the  common  stake  — 
as  was  ever  displayed  at  any  board  when  thousands  were 
changing  hands  every  minute. 

The  Provost  Marshal  had  his  hands  full  in  a  short  time, 
as  applications  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  and  to  be 
allowed  to  go  north,  poured  in  by  thousands.  Many,  also, 
wished  to  enlist  into  our  army  or  navy,  and  a  camp  was 
established  for  them  outside  of  the  prison  bounds.  Two 
regiments  were  raised,  known  as  the  First  and  Second 
United  States  Volunteers,  officered  by  men  from  the  regi 
ments  in  the  department.  These  did  good  service  at 
Norfolk  as  Provost  Guard,  and  are  now  engaged  in  fight 
ing  the  Indians  in  Colorado  Territory.  Several  enlisted 
into  the  Second  Regiment,  and  braver,  truer  men  than 
they  proved  themselves  never  fought  beneath  the  old  flag. 

On  the  fourteenth  of  November,  the  Fifth  Regiment 
arrived  from  New  Hampshire,  where  it  had  been  upon 
furlough,  bringing  with  them  several  hundred  of  that  class 
known  as  "bounty -jumpers."  Now  the  men  had  the 
double  duty  to  perform  of  guarding  the  rebel  prisoners 
and  at  the  same  time  the  men  their  State  had  sent  out  to 
fill  up  their  ranks.  The  boats  which  had  been  such  a 
source  of  enjoyment,  were  taken  away,  to  prevent  the 
substitutes  from  escaping  in  them,  and  strong  guards  were 
stationed  where  guards  had  never  been  stationed  before. 
The  Second  Regiment  soon  received  its  instalment,  as  did 
the  Twelfth.  Several  of  these  were  drowned  in  attempts 
to  escape  —  one  while  out  on  Chesapeake  Bay  in  a  coffin 
which  he  had  taken  from  a  pile  at  the  Point  and  caulked 
up  to  use  as  a  boat.  Of  these  men  we  will  have  more  to 
say  in  the  next  chapter. 


POINT   LOOKOUT.  101 

On  the  twelfth  of  January,  1864,  Gen.  MAKSTON  led  a 
raiding  party  into  the  counties  of  Virginia  lying  opposite 
Point  Lookout.  The  force  consisted  of  three  hundred 
infantry,  picked  men,  one  hundred  and  fifty  cavalry,  and 
a  section  of  a  Rhode  Island  battery.  The  expedition  left 
the  wharf  early  in  the  morning,  convoyed  by  gunboats, 
landed  upon  the  Virginia  shore,  and  for  three  days  created 
quite  a  commotion  among  the  rebels,  a  large  force  of 
whom  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  Rappahannock,  but 
were  prevented  from  crossing  by  our  gunboats  in  the 
river.  Saltworks  and  tanneries  were  destroyed,  and  sev 
eral  rebel  officers  and  soldiers  home  upon  furlough,  were 
captured.  On  the  afternoon  of  the  fifteenth,  the  expe 
dition  returned  to  the  Point,  having  lost  one  man  acci 
dentally  killed,  and  about  a  dozen  missing. 

On  the  twenty -third  of  February,  the  Thirty -Sixth 
Regiment  of  United  States  Colored  Troops  arrived  upon 
the  Point  to  assist  in  doing  guard  duty,  as  four  hundred 
and  fifty  men  were  to  leave  the  next  day  on  furlough  of 
twenty  days  for  New  Hampshire,  These  men  were  trans 
ported  by  water  to  Boston,  upon  the  "Admiral  Dupont," 
formerly  the  blockade -runner  "TubalCaln,"  which  was 
lost  at  sea  in  the  summer  of  1865. 

Point  Lookout  was  the  scene  of  a  terrible  snow-storm 
on  the  twenty -third  of  March,  one  of  the  most  severe  we 
ever  witnessed  in  the  South.  The  storm  set  in  during 
the  afternoon,  and  by  night  the  snow  lay  in  huge  drifts  in 
the  streets  and  by  the  sides  of  the  tents.  The  next  day 
a  great  snow -ball  battle  was  fought  between  the  Second 
and  Twelfth.  The  battle  was  contested  upon  either  side 
with  as  much  valor  and  stubbornness  as  was  ever  dis 
played  where  more  deadly  weapons  were  used,  and  quite 


162  SECOND    N.    H.   REGIMENT. 

a  respectable  list  of  wounded  was  rolled  up.  Black  eyes 
were  plenty  in  both  regiments  for  some  days,  and  the 
surgeons  state  that  there  was  also  an  unusual  demand  for 
sticking  -  plaster . 

Gen.  MARSTON  was  relieved  of  the  command  at  Point 
Lookout  on  the  fourth  day  of  April,  by  Gen.  HINKS  :  and 
three  days  later  the  Second  Regiment  embarked  on  the 
steamer  "  Escort,"  once  more  to  try  its  fortunes  on  the 
soil  of  the  Peninsula. 


0 PI AFTER    XIX. 


BUTLERS       CAMPAIGN       ON       THE      JAMES 


ARCHING  from  the  boat  early  on  the 
L^k^U  morning  of  Thursday,  the  eighth  of 
April,  1863,  we  passed  through  the 
fort  encircling  YorktoAvn,  and  camped 
upon  the  green  plain  to  its  front. 
The  post  was  under  the  command  of 
Gen.  WISTAR,  the  garrison  of  which 
consisted  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Forty -Eighth  New  York,  and  a  brig 
ade  of  colored  troops,  camped  near 
the  old  parallels  of  MCCLELLAN.  On 
the  eleventh  the  Twelfth  Regiment  came  down  from  Point 
Lookout,  and  one  of  the  colored  regiments  was  sent  up 
to  take  its  place. 

We  were  not  fairly  in  camp  before  our  bounty -jumpers 
began  to  show  their  colors.  Within  three  days  over  a 
hundred  men  had  deserted,  some  going  towards  the  rebel 
lines,  and  others,  not  understanding  the  geography  of  the 
country,  towards  Fortress  Monroe.  A  large  proportion 


164  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

of  these  men  were  captured,  and  it  was  considered  neces 
sary  to  make  an  example  of  some  of  the  number  in  order 
to  put  a  stop  to  such  wholesale  desertion.  Four  of  them 
had  been  captured  in  an  open  boat,  while  making  their 
way  along  the  western  shore  of  Chesapeake  Bay.  They 
were  observed  by  the  captain  of  a  boat  bound  down  from 
Baltimore,  who  immediately  steered  towards  them,  when 
they  attempted  to  reach  the  shore,  but  having  only  rough 
pieces  of  board  for  paddles  they  could  not  make  much 
headway,  .and  were  overhauled.  A  court-martial  was 
immediately  assembled,  and  "  JOHN  EGAX,"  of  Company 
A,  one  of  those  captured  in  the  boat,  placed  upon  trial, 
found  guilty  of  desertion,  and  sentenced  to  be  shot  the 
following  day,  the  thirteenth.  All  the  preparations  were 
made  for  the  execution,  the  regiment  marched  to  the 
ground,  and  EGAN  was  on  his  way  to  the  spot,  when  a 
reprieve  arrived,  and  arrested  the  proceedings.  The  mis 
erable  man  threw  up  his  cap  and  danced  for  joy,  evidently 
thinking  that  the  authorities  merely  intended  to  frighten 
him,  and  then  pardon,  as  had  been  done  scores  of  times 
before  during  the  war.  But  he  soon  found  that  the  court 
was  terribly  in  earnest,  for  two  days  after  he  was  again 
taken  forth,  accompanied  by  one  of  his  companions, 
HENRY  HOLT,  who  had  been  tried  and  sentenced  in  the 
meantime.  The  spot  selected  for  the  execution  was  a 
grass  -  covered  plot  about  a  mile  from  the  fort,  near  the 
brow  of  a  steep  bluff  overhanging  the  York  River.  The 
Second  Regiment,  with  unloaded  muskets,  was  drawn  up 
in  line  immediately  facing  the  spot  upon  which  the  mis 
erable  men  were  to  pay  the  penalty  of  their  crime  with 
their  lives ;  upon  the  left  of  the  regiment,  in  position  to 
rake  the  line,  a  section  of  artillery  was  placed;  to  the 


BUTLER'S  CAMPAIGN.  165 

Tear  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty  -  Eighth ;  and  upon  the 
left,  with  its  line  formed  at  a  right  angle  with  the  regi 
ment,  two  colored  regiments,  with  loaded  muskets.  The 
condemned  men  rode  astride  their  coffins,  and  acqompa- 
nied  by  a  Roman  Catholic  priest.  They  glanced  at  the 
dreadful  preparations  with  as  unconcerned  an  air  as  pos 
sible,  but  the  fixed  eye  and  swelling  throat  showed  that  it 
was  only  by  intense  effort  they  could  master  their  feelings. 
The  carts  stopped  at  a  point  directly  in  front  of  the  regi 
ment,  where  they  alighted,  and  their  coffins  were  placed 
upon  the  ground  side  by  side.  The  Provost  Marshal  read 
the  findings  of  the  court  and  the  sentence,  when  the 
twelve  men  detailed  for  the  purpose  were  marched  to  the 
front  of  the  coffins,  a  few  feet  distant.  The  prisoners 
removed  their  coats,  and  knelt  upon  the  green  grass  while 
the  priest  commended  their  souls  to  God.  Arising,  they 
shook  hands  with  the  provost  marshal  in  token  of  forgive 
ness  for  the  part  he  was  to  perform,  and  also  with  the 
reverend  father ;  their  eyes  were  bandaged  and  their  wrists 
bound  with  white  handkerchiefs,  when  they  were  seated 
upon  their  coffins.  Then  followed  a  terrible  moment; 
the  marshal  raised  his  hand,  and  the  sharp  click  of  a 
dozen  gunlocks  was  heard;  again,  and  the  pieces  sprang 
to  the  shoulder;  a  third  time,  and  the  two  culprits  fell 
back  across  their  coffins  dead.  After  a  reasonable  time 
had  elapsed  the  bodies  were  examined  by  the  surgeons  to 
see  if  life  was  extinct,  when  the  troops  were  marched  by 
them  and  back  to  camp.  The  two  companions  of  these 
men  were  afterwards  tried,  convicted,  sentenced  and  exe 
cuted  at  Williamsburg  on  the  twenty -ninth.  These 
measures  were  harsh,  but  they  had  a  most  salutary  effect 
and  the  desertions  were  immediately  checked. 


!<>(>  SECOND    N.  H.    REGIMENT. 

BUTLER'S  "Army  of  the  James"  began  to  assemble  at 
Yorktown  and  Gloucester  soon  after  our  arrival.  Vessels 
from  Port  Royal,  from  North  Carolina  and  from  other 
points  steamed  up  the  river  almost  daily,  laden  with 
troops  and  batteries  of  artillery.  The  army  comprised 
two  corps  —  the  Eighteenth,  commanded  by  General 
"  BALDY"  SMITH,  and  the  Tenth,  commanded  by  Gen. 
GILLMORE.  To  the  former,  WISTAK'S  Brigade  was  as 
signed,  consisting  of  the  Second  and  Twelfth  New  Hamp 
shire  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Eighth  New  York. 
On  the  twenty- second,  the  brigade  removed  to  Williams- 
burg,  where  it  remained  encamped  until  the  fourth  day  of 
May,  on  the  afternoon  of  which  day  the  tents  were  struck, 
and  the  brigade  marched  towards  the  James  River,  where 
it  was  embarked  late  at  night  upon  transports,  from  an 
old  pier  which  had  been  newly  planked  for  the  occasion. 
The  boats  anchored  in  the  stream  until  morning,  when, 
with  the  first  rays  of  the  sun,  the  great  fleet  conveying 
the  Army  of  the  James  'began  to  pass  up  the  river,  having 
passed  from  the  York  river  during  the  night  around  into 
the  James,  to  land  the  expedition  at  City  Point  and  Ber 
muda  Hundred,  while  the  rebels  were  expecting  the  blow 
to  fall  at  West  Point  or  at  the  White  House,  on  the  York. 
First  came  the  gunboats,  saucy  "double -enclers,"  moni 
tors,  and  the  ram  Atlanta,  captured  off  Savannah  by  the 
Weehauken.  Closely  following  these  came  the  trans 
ports,  every  style  and  variety  of  craft  being  represented. 
There  were  old  stern  -  wheelers,  looking  like  huge  saw 
mills  afloat  on  the  tide,  huge  black  ocean  steamers  and 
little  river  boats,  tugs  dragging  schooners  loaded  with 
rations  for  man  or  beast,  and  dispatch  boats  darting  from 
one  point  to  another.  In  this  great  fleet  the  boats  con- 


BUTLER'S  CAMPAIGN.  1(>7 

veying  our  brigade  took  their  position,  and  steamed  up 
the  river.  We  passed  many  points  of  interest  on  the 
toute  —  the  ruins  of  Jamestown,  the  first  settlement  of 
[Virginia,  in  striking  contrast  with  the  early  settlements 
bf  our  Pilgrim  Fathers ;  Fort  Powhattan  with  its  frown 
ing  battlements  and  precipitous  sides,  up  which  were 
moving  negro  troops  to  take  possession;  Harrison's  Land 
ing  with  its  lonely  mansion  house  and  barren  fields ;  and 
Malvern  Hill,  the  scene  of  the  deadly  conflict  of  1862. 
At  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  we  were  at  City  Point, 
which  from  a  distance  with  its  thousands  of  lights  dis 
played  from  the  vessels  comprising  the  fleet,  presented 
the  appearance  of  a  large  city. 

The  army  disembarked  during  the  night  and  the  follow 
ing  morning,  and  an  immediate  advance  was  made  in  the 
direction  of  Petersburg.  The  popular  belief  among  the 
men  was  that  Fort  Darling,  a  few  miles  above,  was  to  be 
immediately  invested,  and  most  of  them  were  so  sanguine 
that  they  expected  to  see  that  rebel  stronghold  in  our 
possession  before  night.  The  body  of  the  army,  however, 
advanced  no  farther  than  to  the  neck  of  the  peninsula 
formed  by  the  James  and  Appomattox,  of  which  Bermuda 
Hundred  was  the  apex,  although  a  force  was  sent  out  a 
few  miles  farther  to  feel  the  enemy.  The  Eighteenth 
Corps  encamped  on  a  high  plateau  near  the  Appomattox, 
from  which  the  spires  of  several  churches  in  the  city  of 
Petersburg  could  be  seen  miles  away,  rising  above  the 
intervening  forests.  Near  the  camp,  upon  the  most  com 
manding  point  of  the  plateau,  stood  a  dwelling. house. 
The  engineers  selected  the  spot  as  the  site  for  a  redoubt, 
and  the  day  after  our  arrival  details  from  the  regiment 
demolished  the  building,  filling  up  a  well  with  the  bricks 


168  SECOND    N.    H.    REGIMENT. 

from  the  chimney.  In  the  evening  a  rebel  signal  light 
was  seen  through  the  darkness  in  the  direction  of  Peters 
burg.  A  section  of  artillery  was  brought  out  and  a  few 
shells  thrown  in  the  direction  of  the  waving  ball  of  fire, 
but  the  range  was  necessarily  bad,  and  the  rebels  paid  no 
attention  to  our  messengers. 

On  Monday,  the  eighth  of  May,  a  general  advance  was 
made  towards  Petersburg.  Our  light -draft  gunboats 
worked  their  way  up  the  sluggish,  shallow  waters  of  the 
Appomattox  to  engage  certain  strong  rebel  works,  while 
the  army  advanced  by  land,  encountering  the  enemy  in  a 
continuous  running  fight,  during  which  the  Second  Regi 
ment  had  one  man  killed  and  six  wounded.  The  Rich 
mond  and  Petersburg  Railroad  was  reached,  and  a  con 
siderable  portion  of  it  destroyed.  The  next  day  the  army 
returned  to  its  camp.  The  gunboats  engaged  Fort  Clif 
ton  and  other  rebel  works ;  and  the  Brewster,  which  from 
its  light  draft  was  enabled  to  ascend  the  river  farther  than 
the  rest,  received  a  hot  shot  and  shortly  after  blew  up, 
her  crew  escaping  by  swimming  to  the  shore. 

On  the  twelfth  the  army  again  advanced,  this  time  in 
the  direction  of  Fort  Darling,  a  sufficient  guard  being  left 
in  the  camp  to  protect  it  from  any  movement  from  the 
direction  of  Petersburg.  The  rebels  were  steadily  pressed 
back,  until  our  army  confronted  the  outworks  of  Fort 
Darling.  GILLMORE'S  Tenth  Corps  gallantly  charged  and 
captured  the  enemy's  works  upon  the  left,  while  the 
riflemen  of  the  Eighteenth  drove  the  rebels  from  those 
upon  the  right,  commanding  the  telegraph  pike  to  Rich 
mond.  HECKMAN'S  Brigade  formed  the  extreme  right  of 
the  line,  and  to  their  left  our  brigade  —  first  the  Second, 
then  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty  -  Eighth,  and  the  Twelfth 


BUTLER'S  CAMPAIGN.  169 

across  the  pike,  where  a  battery  was  posted  upon  the 
reverse  side  of  the  captured  rebel  works.  Three  hundred 
yards  to  the  front  loomed  up  a  strong  rebel  fort  from 
which  floated  two  gaudy  flags,  while. a  half  dozen  log  bar 
racks  just  outside  were  occupied  by  rebel  sharpshooters. 
Skirmishers  were  thrown  out,  who  drove  the  rebels  from 
the  barracks,  and  kept  up  such  a  fire  from  behind  the  logs 
and  stumps  close  under  the  fort  that  not  a  head  appeared 
along  the  whole  rebel  line. 

On  the  fourteenth  and  fifteenth,  the  regiment  erected  a 
breastwork  of  logs,  in  front  of  which,  from  stump  to 
stump,  a  network  of  telegraph  wire  was  strung,  to  trip  an 
advancing  enemy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  sixteenth  of  May  was  fought 
the  celebrated  "  fog  fight,"  Beauregard  concentrating  his 
troops  about  Fort  Darling,  and  making  a  grand  sortie 
to  drive  back  the  besiegers.  Under  cover  of  a  dense  fog 
the  rebels  silently  formed  their  lines  outside  of  the  works, 
and  made  a  furious  attack  upon  the  extreme  right,  to  turn 
that  flank  of  our  army.  HECKMAN'S  and  WIST  AH' s  Brig 
ades  bore  the  brunt  of  the  attack.  The  Second  fought, 
among  other  rebel  troops,  several  companies  of  the  "  fine 
young  men"  of  Richmond,  who  had  been  brought  out  for 
the  emergency.  A  rebel  flag  was  planted  a  short  distance 
at  the  front  of  our  line  in  a  spirit  of  bravado,  and  then 
the  mass  of  charging  rebels  burst  into  sight.  The  rifles 
of  the  regiment  were  emptied  into  the  advancing  ranks 
with  terrible  effect,  while  the  line  was  thrown  into  inex 
tricable  confusion  by  the  wires  upon  the  stumps,  which 
tripped  the  men  and  sent  them  sprawling  upon  the  ground, 
the  wounded  and  the  uninjured  piled  up  together.  Our 
men,  in  the  excitement  of  the*  moment,  leaped  upon  their 


170  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

log  breastworks,  and  plied  their  rifles  with  terrible  effect. 
The  attack  was  renewed  again,  desperately,  but  with  the 
same  result.  The  ground  in  front  of  the  breastworks 
was  literally  matted  with  mangled  gray -clad  forms.  The 
regiment  never  in  any  fight  inflicted  such  terrible  punish 
ment  upon  the  enemy  as  here,  Lieut.  Col.  COOPER  (then 
adjutant)  estimating  their  loss  in  front  of  the  regiment  at 
not  far  from  two  thousand.  A  rebel  who  was  engaged  in 
the  fight  and  afterwards  taken  prisoner,  acknowledged  to 
one  of  our  men  that  their  loss  on  the  right  of  the  turnpike 
was  about  eighteen  hundred,  and  also  expressed  the  opin 
ion  that  the  wire  arrangement  was  a  "•  d — d  rascally  con 
trivance."  Yet  we  suffered  a  very  slight  proportionate 
loss  —  four  killed  and  fourteen  wounded.  Among  the 
killed  was  the  lamented  Capt.  JAMES  H.  PLATT,  of  Com 
pany  E.  During  the  hottest  of  the  fight  he  had  just 
called  the  attention  of  Lieut.  LOED  to  the  withering 
effect  of  our  fire,  when  a  rifle  bullet  pierced  his  brain, 
and  he  expired  almost  immediately.  His  body  was  con 
veyed  in  an  ambulance  to  City  Point,  embalmed  and  sent 
to  New  Hampshire,  where  it  now  sleeps  in  the  beautiful 
Valley  Cemetery  at  Manchester. 

But  while  we  were  repulsing  the  rebel  attacks  so  hand 
somely,  a  strong  force  was  inarching  clear  around  the  right 
of  HECKMAN'S  Brigade,  which  suddenly  received  a  volley 
from  the  rear.  The  brigade  was  broken  and  crushed,  the 
men  slaughtered,  and  the  general  wounded  and  taken 
prisoner.  The  right  was  thus  turned,  and  the  Second 
was  ordered  to  fall  back,  which  it  did  for  a  short  distance, 
when,  in  obedience  to  orders,  it  advanced  and  occupied 
the  breastworks  far  a  second  time  until  the  whole  line  was 
withdrawn,  and  a  new  orie  established  a  few  hundred 


171 


yards  to  the  rear.  The  remainder  of  the  d^y  was  passed 
in  skirmishing  and  maneuvering ;  and  at  night  BUTLER 
withdrew  to  Bermuda  Hundred. 

•  We  were  now  placed  in  a  state  of  siege,  and  the  utmost 
diligence  was  displayed  in  the  erection  of  a  line  of  works 
across  the  Peninsula,  which  were  soon  completed,  the  men 
laboring  night  and  day.  The  portion  of  the  line  occupied 
by  the  Eighteenth  Corps,  presented  an  unusually  strong 
front,  a  part  of  its  distance  being  swept  by  the  gunboats 
on  the  Appomattox,  and  the  rest  fronting  upon  almost 
impassable  ravines.  Upon  the  centre  and  right  were 
broad,  open  fields,  over  which  the  Tenth  Corps  were  con 
tinually  fighting  with  the  enemy,  and  many  a  time  did  the 
firing  upon  that  portion  of  the  line  become  so  brisk  that 
the  whole  Eighteenth  Corps  was  turned  out  and  formed 
behind  the  works.  On  the  twentieth  a  severe  fight  was 
had  over  some  of  our  advanced  rifle-pits,  in  which  the 
rebel  Maj.  Gen.  WALKER  was  severely  wounded  and 
captured.  At  night  the  gunboats  often  shelled  the  woods 
in  our  front,  their  ponderous  shells  howling  and  crashing 
through  the  trees  in  a  line  parallel  with  the  works,  until 
they  ended  their  career  in  stunning  explosions. 

Thus  the  time  passed  until  the  twenty -seventh.  On 
that  day  our  division  deserted  the  works,  which  were 
occupied  by  dismounted  cavalry,  squads  of  invalids  and 
detachments  from  the  Tenth  Corps.  We  marched  about 
a  mUoito  the  rear,  and  camped  until  five  o'clock  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  twenty- eighth,  when  we  crossed  the 
Appomattox  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  marched  to  City 
Point,  which  was  garrisoned  by  the  negro  division  of  our 
corps.  The  movement  was  a  blind  one  to  the  men,  who, 
for  once,  were  at  a  loss  to  account  for  the  movement  or  to 


172  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

guess  at  its  destination.  It  afterwards  came  out  that  the 
movement  was  commenced  with  a  view  to  a  morning  as 
sault  upon  a  portion  of  the  rebel  works  about  Petersburg, 
but  an  order  arriving  from  Gen.  GRANT  for  a  reinforce 
ment  from  BUTLER'S  Army,  we  were  diverted  from  our 
original  course  and  sent  to  join  the  Lieutenant  General, 
as  will  be  detailed  in  the  next  chapter. 


CHAPTER    XX. 


COLD       HARBOR. 


T  sunrise  on  the  twenty  -  ninth  of  May, 
the  division  embarked  upon  transports 
and  steamed  down  the  James,  the  Sec 
ond  Regiment  occupying  the  new  pro 
peller  "  General  Lyon."  At  nine 
o'clock  the  little  fleet  anchored  off 
Yorktown;  and  early  the  next  morn 
ing  we  were  again  on  our  way,  up  the 
turbid  waters  of  the  York.  At  West 
Point  we  entered  the  Pamunky,  nar 
row,  tortuous  and  difficult  of  naviga 
tion.  Our  troubles  now  commenced,  for  the  General 
Lyon,  with  its  great  draft  of  water,  was  continually  run 
ning  aground,  and  one  time  she  remained  with  her  keel 
in  the  mud  for  five  hours  before  she  was  extricated.  To 
the  Pamunky  we  are  willing  to  give  the  palm  as  being  the 
most  crooked  river  we  ever  traversed.  One  could  hardly 
trace  upon  paper  a  line  with  more  contortions  than  is  dis 
played  by  this  stream.  At  one  time  we  saw,  as  it  ap- 


174  SECOND   N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

peared  to  us,  the  leading  transports  turn  and  steam  their 
way  back.  The  conclusion  was  that  a  rebel  battery  had 
been  encountered,  and  that  the  transports  were  coming 
back  to  give  the  gunboats  a  chance ;  but  we  soon  discov 
ered  that  we  had  been  deceived  by  a  huge  ox -bow  turn 
of  the  river. 

When  about  two  miles  from  White  House  our  transport 
ran  aground  and  could  not  be  pulled  off.  So  the  next 
morning  we  were  taken  off  by  a  ferry-boat  and  landed  at 
White  House.  The  wreck  and  ruins  of  canal -boats  and 
barges  which  had  been  destroyed  during  the  Peninsula 
campaign  still  lined  the  shores,  and  the  two  blackened 
chimneys  were  all  that  remained  of  the  celebrated  "  White 
House."  During  the  forenoon  the  knapsacks  and  all 
superfluous  luggage  was  packed  to  be  sent  to  Norfolk, 
and  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  we  set  out  to  join 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  had  so  valiantly  fought 
its  way  from  the  Rapidan  to  Cold  Harbor.  We  camped 
at  about  nine  in  the  evening  near  Old  Church,  where  the 
western  horizon  was  bright  writh  the  light  from  the  camp  - 
fires  of  GRANT'S  great  army. 

The  next  day,  the  first  of  June,  we  joined  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac.  The  division  guarded  a  wagon  train  to 
Gen.  GRANT'S  headquarters,  and  immediately  pushed  on 
where  the  Sixth  Corps  was  skirmishing  with  the  enemy, 
about  a  mile  beyond.  The  division  was  marched  rapidly 
down  the  dusty  road,  and  precipitated  into  the  fight  im 
mediately.  There  was  much  hot  work,  and  the  rebels 
were  driven  into  their  main  line  of  entrenchments,  leaving 
many  prisoners  in  our  hands.  The  Second  Regiment, 
although  under  a  hot  artillery  fire,  and  losing  several  men, 
was  not  actively  engaged.  The  next  day  the  division  lay 


COLD   HARBOR.  175 

in  an  open  field,  across  which,  within  long  rifle  range,  a 
rebel  flag  waved  defiantly  in  the  summer  air.  In  the 
woods  to  either  side  of  the  field  lay  line  upon  line  of  our 
troops,  while  a  single  line  was  extended  across  the  field, 
sheltered  by  a  rude  breastwork,  in  front  of  which  were 
little  holes  from  which  the  pickets  kept  up  a  continual 
fire.  At  night  the  division  moved  to  the  right,  and  made 
their  bivouac  just  to  the  rear  of  a  triple  line  of  breast 
works.  It  was  well  known  that  there  was  to  be  a  terrible 
fight  on  the  morrow,  and  the  men,  as  they  sipped  their 
coffee  by  the  camp-fires  discussed  the  position  as  only 
soldiers  can,  and  wondered  who  of  the  number  would 
"go  up"  in  the  approaching  conflict. 

The  morning  of  the  second  dawned,  and  with  its  first 
beams  the  division  advanced  down  through  the  works  and 
formed  in  the  cover  of  the  woods.  The  charge  which 
ensued  upon  the  rebel  works  —  the  battle  of  Cold  Har 
bor —  was  bloody  in  the  extreme,  but  we  shall  confine 
ourselves  to  the  movements  of  our  own  brigade  and  regi 
ment.  The  brigade  wras  closed  in  mass  by  battalion,  the 
Twelfth  New  Hampshire  being  the  first  and  the  Second  the 
fifth  battalion  in  the  column.  The  order  was  given  to  ad 
vance,  and  as  the  brigade  dashed  from  the  woods  it  w^as 
greeted  with  a  terrible  fire  from  artillery  and  from  the 
thousands  of  deadly  tubes  which  bristled  from  the  rebel 
works.  The  men  dropped  by  scores,  but  the  column 
dashed  forward  for  full  two  hundred  yards  —  more  than 
half  the  distance  —  when  the  Twelfth,  which  had  been 
slaughtered  mercilessly,  halted,  and  was  throwrn  back  by 
the  pitiless  hail.  The  three  intervening  regiments  also 
broke,  and  the  ranks  of  the  Second  were  thrown  into  confu 
sion  ;  but  in  the  edge  of  the  woods  the  men  halted  and  re- 


176  SECOND    N.  II.  REGIMENT. 

formed  the  lines.  The  rebel  bullets  every  moment  sought 
their  victims,  and  to  protect  themselves  the  men,  lying  flat 
on  the  ground  and  using  their  hands,  bayonets  and  knives, 
threw  up  little  mounds  of  earth  to  shelter  themselves, 
which  were  afterwards  added  to  and  elaborated  into  ser- 
vicable  rifle-pits.  Men  were  being  constantly  wounded. 
Capt.  GEORGE  W.  GORDON,  of  Company  I,  was  struck  in 
the  top  of  the  head  by  a  bullet,  and  died  at  the  hospital 
in  less  than  an  hour.  Capt.  WILLIAM  H.  SMITH,  of 
Company  B,  was  wounded  through  both  legs,  and  though 
no  bones  were  injured  he  died  on  the  seventh.  Lieut. 
HARRY  HAYWARD,  of  Company  D,  was  using  a  rifle, 
shooting  at  a  point  where  an  obnoxious  sharpshooter  was 
stationed,  when  a  bullet  pierced  his  neck,  and  he  lived 
but  a  few  hours.  Sergt.  Maj.  MOSES  L.  F.  SMITH  was 
shot  through  the  thighs,  living  a  short  time  in  dreadful 
agony.  A  bullet  struck  close  by  the  head  of  Lieut.  GEO. 
T.  CARTER,  of  Company  I.  "CARTER'S  got  it!"  ex 
claimed  a  Qomrade.  "No,  I  guess  not,"  exclaimed  the 
lieutenant,  raising  his  head,  when  a  bullet,  better  aimed 
than  the  first,  struck  him  in  the  head  and  inflicted  an  ugly 
wound.  Dr.  BTJXTOX,  the  assistant  surgeon,  established 
a  field  hospital  in  a  hole  which  he  dug  with  his  own  hands 
a  short  distance  from  the  line  of  battle,  and  thus  rendered 
prompt  aid  to  many  for  whom  delay  would  have  been 
dangerous.  The  entire  loss  of  the  regiment  this  day  was 
not  far  from  seventy,  and  many  of  those  killed  had  but 
four  days  longer  to  serve,  when  their  three  years  of  ser 
vice  would  have  expired. 

The  dead  and  wounded  remained  upon  the  field  between 
the  two  lines,  and  during  the  night  the  men  crawled  out 
to  the  assistance  of  their  wounded  companions,  and  many 


COLD    HARBOR.  177 

were  brought  in  who  lay  close  by  the  rebel  pickets.  Dur 
ing  the  days  which  now  ensued  there  was  a  constant  fusil- 
ade,  and  men  were  wounded  and  killed  daily.  Regiments 
whose  time  had  expired  often  had  men  killed  in  the  ranks 
while  marching  to  the  rear  on  their  way  home,  and  the 
field  we  have  before  spoken  of  was  dotted  with  the  graves 
of  men  who  had  been  shot  while  crossing  it. 

On  the  morning  of  the  eighth  the  original  men  who  had 
not  re-enlisted  were  marched  from  the  trenches  to  return 
to  their  native  State.  It  was  a  sad  occasion,  the  parting 
of  the  men  who  for  three  years  had  stood  together  as 
brother^  in  danger  and  trial,  and  if  tears  were  shed  they 
were  not  evidences  of  unmanly  weakness.  "I  will  tell 
you  what  it  is,  boys,"  exclaimed  one  of  the  men,  "when 
I  think  what  we  have  been  through  together,  and  all 
about  the  last  three  years,  it  makes  me  almost  decide  that 
I'll  not  go  home  till  you  do."  And  not  a  man  but  felt 
more  or  less  of  this  sentiment. 

On  the  ninth  we  embarked  at  White  House  on  the 
Young  America,  anchoring  for  the  night  near  Yorktown. 
The  next  day  we  went  to  Norfolk  for  our  baggage,  which 
had  been  stored  there ;  and  on  the  eleventh  the  quarter 
master  at  Fortress  Monroe  informed  us  that  if  we  would 
unload  the  propeller  Detroit  we  could  have  her  as  a 
transport  to  New  York.  The  ship  was  unloaded  in  an 
astonishingly  short  time,  and  at  half -past  eight  we  bade 
farewell  to  the  soil  of  Virginia,  the  scene  of  our  three 
years  campaigns,  the  grave  of  so  many  brave  comrades. 

We  arrived  in  New  York  during  the  evening  of  the 
thirteenth,  took  the  "Commonwealth"  the  next  day  for 
Groton,  and  at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  forenoon  of  the  sev 
enteenth  were  once  more  in  the  capital  of  the  old  Granite 


178  SECOND    N.  H.  REGIMENT. 

State.  The  citizens  of  Concord  laid  out  for  a  grand 
reception,  which  did  not  come  off  because  the  soldiers 
scattered  for  their  homes  until  hardly  two  of  them  re 
mained  together.  They  appreciated  the  good  feelings  of 
the  Concord  people,  and  thanked  them  sincerely,  but  after 
such  an  absence  as  they  had  experienced,  the  claims  of 
families  and  personal  friends  took  the  precedence. 

On  Tuesday,  the  twenty -first  day  of  June,  1864,  the 
men  assembled  at  Concord,  and  in  the  State  House  Yard 
listened  to  the  last  roll-call  of  the  companies,  and  the 
words  of  the  mustering  officer  which  once  more  made 
them  citizens  —  "Mustered  out  of  the  United  States 
Service." 


APPENDIX. 


FIELD   AND  STAFF   OFFICERS. 


THOMAS  P.  PIERCE,  Colonel.    Resigned  June  4, 1861. 

GILMAN  MARSTON,  Colonel.    Promoted  to  Brig.  Gen.  April  17, 1863. 

FRANCIS  S.  FISKE,  Lieut.  Colonel.    Resigned  Oct.  13, 1862. 

JOSIAH  STEVENS,  JR.,  Major.    Resigned  July  25, 1862. 

SAMUEL  G.  LANGLEY,  Adjutant.    Pro.  Lt.  Col.  5th  N.  H.,  Oct.  26, 1861. 

FRANK  FULLER,  Quartermaster.    Resigned  June  3,  1861. 

GEORGE  H.  HUBBARD,  Surgeon.    Resigned  June  3, 1861. 

JAMES  M.  MERROW,         "  Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

WILLIAM  P.  STONE,  Assistant  Surgeon.    Pro.  to  Surgeon,  June,  1864. 

GEORGE  P.  GREELEY,  "  Resigned  June  3, 1861. 

OSCAR  WORTHLEY,  "  Resigned  Sept.  17,  1862. 

SYLVANUS  BUNTON,  "  Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

HENRY  E.  PARKER,  Chaplain.    Resigned  July,  1862. 

GEORGE  S.  BARNES,       "  Resigned  April  25, 1863. 

JOHN  W.  ADAMS,          " 


NON-COMMISSIONED   STAFF. 


WILLIAM  G.  STARK,  Hospital  Steward.  Pro.  Asst.  Surgeon  June,  1864. 
GEORGE  W.  GORDON,  Sergt.  Major.  Pro.  to  Capt.  Killed  June  2,  1864. 
JAMES  A.  COOK,  Commissary  Sergt.  Pro.  to  Captain  and  Commisary 

[of  Subsistence. 


180  APPENDIX. 

LINE    OFFICERS. 

COMPANY    A. 

TILESTON  A.  BARKER,  Captain.    Resigned  Sept.  1, 1862. 
HENRY  M.  MKTCALF,  First  Lieut.    Promoted  to  Captain  Co.  F.     Killed 

[at  Gettysburg. 
HERBERT  B.  TITUS,  Second  Lieut.    Promoted  Major  9th  N.  H.  V. 

COMPANY    B. 

SIMON  G.  GRIFFIN,  Captain.    Promoted  Lieut.  Col.  6th  N.  H.  V. 
CHARLES  W.  WALKER,  First  Lieut.    Killed  by  R.  R.  accident,  June,  '61. 
ABIEL  W.  COLBY,  Second  Lieut.    Pro.  to  Capt.    Died  May  13, 1862. 

COMPANY    C. 

JAMES  W.  CARR,  Captain.    Pro.  to  Lieut.  Col.     Mus.  ont  June  21,  1864. 
JAMES  H.  PLATT,  First  Lieut.    Pro.  to  Capt.    Killed  May  16, 1864. 
SAMUEL  0.  BURNHAM,  Second  Lieut.    Wounded  severely  May  5th.    Pro. 

[to  Capt.    Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps. 

COMPANY   D. 

HIRAM  ROLLINS,  Captain.    Resigned  Oct.  14,  1864. 
SAMUEL  P.  SAYLES,  First  Lieut.    Promoted  to  Major.    Wounded  sev'ly 
[July  2,  1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 
WARREN  H.  PARMENTER,  Second  Lieut.  Pro.  1st  Lt.    Resigned  July,  '62. 

COMPANY    E. 

LEONARD  DROWN,  Captain.    Killed  May  5, 1862. 

WILLIAM  H.  SMITH,  First  Lieut.    Pro.  Capt.  Died  of  wounds  June  7,  '64. 

Ai  B.  THOMPSON,  Second  Lieut.    Entered  Regular  Army,  Aug.  7, 1861. 

COMPANY    F. 

THOMAS  SNOW,  Captain.    Resigned  Aug.  12, 1862. 
JOSHUA  F.  LITTLEFIELD,  First  Lieut.     Pro.  to  Capt.     Died  of  wounds 

[received  Aug.  29, 1863. 
HARRISON  D.  F.  YOUNG,  Second  Lieut.    Pro.  Capt.  Mus.  out  J'e  21,  '64. 

COMPANY    G. 

EPHRAIM  WESTON,  Captain.    Died  Dec.  9, 1861. 

EVARTS  W.  FARR,  First  Lieut.    Pro.  to  Capt.    Resigned  Sept.  4,  1862. 

SYLVESTER  ROGERS,  Second  Lieut.    Pro.  1st  Lt.    Killed  Aug.  29,  1862. 


COMPANY   A.  181 


LINE    OFFICERS  — COMPANY    H. 

ICHABOD  PEARL,  Captain.    Resigned  Aug.  12, 1861. 
JOAB  N.  PATTERSON,  First  Lieut.    Pro.  Col.  on  muster  out  of  original 

[members  of  Reg't.,  not  re-enlisted. 
WM.  H.  PRESCOTT,  Second  Lieut.    Entered  Regular  Army,  Aug.  7, 1861. 

COMPANY    I. 

EDWARD  L.  BAILEY,  Captain.    Promoted  to  Colonel.  Mas.  out  June,  ?64. 
SAMUEL  G.  LANGLEY,  First  Lieut,  and  Adft.    Pro.  Lt.  Col.  5th  N.  H. 
JOSEPH  A.  HUBBARD,  Second  Lieut.    Pro.  to  Capt.    Killed  July  2,  1863. 

COMPANY   K. 

WILLIAM  0.  SIDES,  Captain.    Resigned  July,  1861. 

JOHN  S.  GODFREY,  First  Lieut.    Pro.  to  Capt.  and  Asst.  Qr.  Master. 

JOHN  S.  SIDES,  Second  Lieut.    Pro.  to  First  Lieut.  Resigned  Jan.  7,  '63. 


ENLISTED    MEN. 

COMPANY    A. 

SERGEANTS. 

Fred.  W.  Cobb,  First  Sergeant.    Pro.  First  Lieut.    Resig'd  Aug.  31,  '62. 

Levi  N.  Converse,  promoted  to  Captain. 

Milton  W.  Clark,  discharged  for  disability,  May  31, 1863. 

Christian  Pressler,  discharged  by  order,  Dec.  15,  1862. 

Center  H.  Lawrence,  Promoted  to  Ass't.  Adj't.  General. 

CORPORALS. 

Jonathan  Calif,  died  of  wounds,  Aug.  14, 1861. 
Rufus  Atwood,  promoted  Sergeant.    Died  Jan.  23, 1864. 
Isaac  W.  Derby,  discharged  for  disability  Sept.  10, 1861. 
Sanford  A.  Atherton,  discharged  Sept.  12, 1862. 
Joseph  W.  Wetherbee,  discharged  Oct.  22, 1862. 
Henry  H.  Johnson,  discharged  July  21,  1861. 
William  Dunton,  discharged  by  order  Nov.  6, 1862. 
John  P.  Stone,  promoted  to  Sergeant.    Killed  July  2, 1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

Shnbeal  White,  unaccounted  for. 
Henry  Holton,  died  March  19, 1863. 


182  APPENDIX. 

WAGONER. 

Emery  W.  Grandy,  mustered  out,  June  21, 1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  Charles  W.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Blake,  John  A.,  wounded  July  2, 1863,  discharged  June  7, 1864. 

Bowen,  Alfred  R.,  promoted  to  Corporal,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Blodgett,  Calvin  A.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Blodgett,  Charles  S.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Bryant,  John  F.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Burbank,  Daniel  E.,  discharged  May  22, 1862. 

Burrill,  John  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Brooks,  Daniel  S.,  died  in  hands  of  enemy,  Oct.  21,  1861. 

Belknap,  Chester,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Blake,  Charles  H.,  discharged  Nov.  17, 18(52. 

Capron,  J.  Foster,  discharged  Oct.  22,  1861. 

Calif,  William  W.,  discharged  Jan.  27, 1863. 

Cummings,  Thadeus,  discharged  Sept.  12, 1862. 

Coolridge,  George,  discharged  Aug.  19, 1861. 

Drummer,  John  A.,  died  Dec.  9, 1861. 

Darling,  John  G.,  discharged  July  25,  1862. 

Davis,  Nathaniel  D.,  discharged  Feb.  7, 1863. 

Davis,  George  G.,  discharged  Sept.  12, 1862. 

Davis,  James,  died  Jan.  9,  1863. 

Emerson,  Quincy  A.,  re-enlisted. 

Eaton,  Orleans  S.,  discharged  April  27, 1864. 

Eddy,  George  P.,  discharged  Feb.  7,  1863. 

Farr,  Charles  M.,  discharged  Nov.  5,  1862. 

Forristall,  Jonas,  died  Oct.  25,  1862. 

Gillson,  Aaron  R.,  discharged  July  28,  1861. 

Greenwood,  True  M.,  discharged  Sept.  25,  1861. 

Hunt,  Lucius  F.,  discharged  July  28,  1861. 

Howe,  Lucius  T.,  unaccounted  for. 

Hammond,  John  W.,  re-enlisted. 

Heaton,  George  S.,  discharged  —  date  unknown. 

Hodskins,  William  H.,  died  July  25,  1862. 

Kurd,  Warren  H,  discharged  Jan.  25, 1864.          [tered  out  June  21.  1864. 

Hay  wood,  Allen  B.,  promoted  to  1st  Sergt.    Wounded  July  2,  1863,  mus- 

Holbrook,  Samuel  F.,  pro.  to  1st  S'gt.    W'ded  July  2,  '63.     Re-enlisted. 

Heustis,  Aristides,  deserted  Dec.  22,  1862. 

Heaton,  Albert  W.,  died  May  25,  1862. 

Hay  wood,  Silas  L.,  promoted  First  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hildreth,  William  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Holden,  Jonathan  M.,  discharged  Oct.  19, 1861. 


COMPANY    A.  183 

Isham,  Charles  H.,  discharged  June  25, 1863. 

Jewell,  Elhridge  E.,  discharged  July  28,  1861. 

Jaquith,  Dana  8.,  Mustered  out  July  21, 1864. 

Joslyn,  Joseph  H.,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Joslyn,  John  K.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Lane,  Nathaniel  P.,  killed  May  5, 18(52. 

Lawrence,  Abraham  R.,  died  Jan.  14, 1862. 

Mclntosh,  Charles  H.,  re-enlisted. 

Marsh,  Henry  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

McManus,  Michael,  w'nded  July  2,  '63.  Pro.  Corp.  Mus.  out  June  21,  '64. 

Miles,  Danvers,  discharged  July  30, 1862. 

Miles,  George,  killed  June  25, 1862. 

Nims,  Ruel  P.,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

Nash,  Frank,  discharged  Feb.  7,  1863. 

Freckle,  William  H.,  discharged  February  3,  1863. 

Pratt,  Edward  R.,  discharged  July  28,  1863. 

Pickett,  George  L.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Ritchie,  Edmund  F.,  died  Oct.  2, 1862. 

Ruffle,  Benjamin  F.,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Re-enlisted. 

Rice,  John  L.,  commissioned  in  16th  N.  H.  V. 

Simmer,  Aaron  B.,  promoted  Sergeant.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Spring,  William  H.,  killed  July  2,  1863. 

Sherwin,  Horace  E.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Shirgley,  Charles  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Stevens,  George  C.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Re-enlisted. 

Sebastian,  Charles,  deserted,  date  unknown. 

Sebastian,  Samuel,  discharged  July  28,  1861. 

Sanborn,  Mattison,  discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 

Taft,  Edward  N.,  killed  May  5,  1862. 

Turner,  Gardner  W.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Tower,  George  R.,  discharged  July  16,  1861. 

Taft,  Josiah  0.,  died  June  30, 1862. 

Thorning,  William  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Turreil,  Aaron  B.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Walker,  Albert  R.,  pro.  Sergt.    W'nded  July  2,  '62.    Trans,  to  Inv.  C'ps. 

Whittemore,  Daniel  W.,  discharged  Aug,  10, 1861. 

Whitman,  George  H.,  discharged  Aug.  18, 1862. 

Woodward,  Daniel  B.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

White,  Henry,  died  Dec.  9, 1861. 

Wheeler,  William  C.,  discharged  Sept.  12, 1862. 

White,  Gilraan  E.,  died  Feb.  20,  1862. 

Wheeler,  John  F.,  died  of  wounds  June  8,  1862. 

Young,  Edwin,  promoted  to  Sergeant.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 


184  APPENDIX. 

COMPANY  B. 

SERGEANTS. 

Charles  Holmes,  First  Sergeant.    Pro.  to  Capt.  17th  U.  S.  Inf  ty. 
George  W.  Boyden,  pro.  to  First  Lieutenant.    Resigned  May  20, 1862. 
Charles  S.  Cooper,  taken  prisoner  July  21, 1861. 
Frank  W.  Perkins,  promoted  to  Capt.  and  Asst.  Quartermaster. 
Charles  A.  Milton,  app.  Medical  Cadet,  Oct.  1, 1861. 

CORPORALS. 

John  0.  Stevens,  pro.  to  Sergeant.    Died  of  wounds  rec'd  July  2, 1863. 
John  D.  Cooper,  Jr.,  pro.  to  Lt.  Col.  on  muster  out  men  not  re-enlisted. 
George  M.  Shute,  pro.  to  First  Lieut. 
Hiram  F.  Gerrish,pro.  to  Capt.  and  A.  Q.  M. 
Charles  H.  Shute,  pro.  First  Lieut,  and  Regimental  Quartermaster. 
Wells  C.  Haynes,  wounded  July  21, 1861,  and  died  in  hands  of  enemy. 
Thomas  E.  Barker,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds. 
Thomas  B.  Leaver,  pro.  to  Sergeant.    Killed  July  25, 1862. 

MUSICIANS. 

John  W.  Ocllin,  transferred  to  3d  N.  H.  V. 
Edward  G.  Tuttle,  discharged  Aug.  16, 1862. 

WAGONER. 

William  W.  Casson,  discharged  March  3, 1863. 

PRIVATES. 

Anderson,  Daniel,  re-enlisted.    Killed  at  Cold  Harbor  June  2, 1864. 

Brown,  John  L.  T.,  wounded  and  discharged. 

Burbank,  Calvin  M.,  pro.  to  Corp.    W'nded  July  2,  1863.  Mus.  out  '64. 

Ballard,  William  W.,  pro.  to  First  Lieut.    Killed  July  2, 18€3. 

Boody,  John,  discharged  Aug.  19, 1861. 

Brown,  Wilbur  F.,  taken  prisoner  July  3,  1863. 

County,  George  B.,  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Corser,  Hamilton  T.,  discharged  Aug.  19,  1861. 

Carter,  George  T.,  w'nded  July  2,  1863.    Re-enlisted.    Pro.  to  Capt. 

Clay,  George  H.,  discharged  July  15, 1862. 

Cheever,  George  N.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Taken  prisoner  July  2, 1863. 

Clifford,  William,  re-enlisted. 

Chase,  Samuel  H.,  discharged  July  19,  1861. 

Carr,  Samuel  L.,  discharged  Nov.  15,  1862. 

Cotton,  John  F.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Clement,  Orrin  B.,  died  Dec.  3, 1862. 

Carlton,  William  E.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Discharged  Nov.  20, 1863. 

Chapman,  Joseph  E.,  wounded  and  discharged  Dec.  5, 1862. 


COMPAOT   B. 


185 


Damon,  George  H.,  pro.  Corporal.    Killed  June  25, 1862. 

Dickey,  William,  pro.  to  Principal  Musician.    Discharged. 

Dickey,  David  G.,  discharged  Nov.  20, 1863. 

Demerett,  George  W.,  wounded  June  3,  '64.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Eastman,  John  L.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Emerson,  George  C.,  killed  May  5, 1862. 

Eaton,  John  H.,  discharged  Feb.  15, 1863. 

Foss,  Charles  H.,  unaccounted  for. 

Farmer,  Augustus  B.,  pro.  to  1st  Sergt.  W'n'd  June  3,  '64.  Mus.  out.  '64. 

Fitts,  John  L.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Goodwin,  Charles  E.,  discharged  Nov.  20, 1863. 

Goodwin,  Aaron,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2, 1863. 

Goodwin,  Hiram  S.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Godfrey,  Edwin  J.,  discharged  Aug.  19, 1861. 

Gillispie,  Samuel  J.,  deserted  Jan.  14, 1863. 

Hadley,  Sylvester  E.,  trans,  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps. 

Harmond,  Charles,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Holden,  Wyman,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hastings,  Alfred  S.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864 

Hoitt,  James  W.,  discharged  July  31, 1861. 

Heath,  Charles  N.,  deserted  May  4, 1862. 

Hanaghan,  Patrick  H.,  killed  June  25, 1862. 

Hanscom,  John  H.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Harlow,  Albert,  deserted  Aug.  1, 1861. 

Kasson,  Harry  B.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Taken  prisoner  July  3, 1863. 

Keyes,  Franklin  L.,  discharged  Nov.  27,  1862. 

Killiher,  Michael,  discharged  Aug.  9, 1861. 

Lees,  Thomas,  taken  prisoner  July  2,  '63.  Pro.  2d  Lt.  Mus.  out  June,  '64. 

Lamprey,  John  L.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Lang,  Charles  A.,  discharged  July  30, 1861. 

Lang,  Thomas  M.,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Discharged  March  10, 1863, 

Little,  Thomas  B.,  discharged  July  30, 1863. 

Ladd,  George  W.,  died  of  wounds  Sept.  25, 1862, 

Lamprey,  Horace  A.,  killed  June  25, 1862. 

Mayo,  Giles  0.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Wounded  July  2, 1863.    Re-enlisted. 

Mitchell,  Sewall,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Moon,  Henry,  discharged  July  15,  1862. 

May,  James  A.,  discharged  Oct.  22, 1862. 

Moore,  John  W.,  discharged  to  accept  promotion  March  29, 1863. 

McCatherine,  Thomas,  unaccounted  for. 

Mace,  Charles  A.,  discharged  May  28, 1863. 

Mace,  John  H.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Noyes,  Edward  R.*,  discharged  March  8, 1862. 


186  APPENDIX. 

Parker,  Charles  M.,  deserted  Oct.  20, 1862. 

Philbrick,  Charles  W.,  killed  July  2,  1863. 

Patch,  William  H.  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Perry,  Charles  H.,  discharged  July  15, 1862. 

Roberts,  Andrew  J.,  discharged  July  30,  1863. 

Soesrnan,  Flavius,  re-enlisted.    Wounded  June  2, 1864. 

Seavey,  Smith  M.,  discharged. 

Sanger,  Austin  T.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Swett,  Nelson  S.,  died  of  wounds  received  June  25,  1862. 

Small,  P^dwin  F.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  Sept.  8, 1864. 

Tilden,  Charles  T.,  discharged. 

True,  Roby  M.,  discharged  April  1, 1864. 

Tuttle,  Freeman  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Tuttle,  Horace,  promoted  to  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Varney,  Benjamin  P.,  wounded  May  16, 1864.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Woodman,  Alfred,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Wallace,  Nathaniel  D.,  taken  prisoner  July  3, 1863. 

Willdns,  Charles,  pro.  to  Hospital  Steward  U.  S.  Army. 

Worthen,  John  H.,  discharged  June  26,  1863. 

Wallace,  William,  discharged  Aug.  5, 1862. 

Watson,  Jacob  W.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 


COMPANY    C. 

SERGEANTS. 

Norton  R.  Moore,  1st  Sergt.    Pro.  to  2d  Lieut.    Killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Richard  A.  Lawrence,  discharged  July  29, 1861. 

Benjamin  F.  Chase,  killed  July  2,  1863. 

Alvin  L.  Wiggin,  pro.  1st  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Prank  0.  Robinson,  pro.  to  1st  Sergt.    Killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

CORPORALS. 

James  M.  Bush,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Killed  May  5, 1862. 

Alfred  W.  Berham,  wounded  July  21, 1861.  Pro.  Sergt.  Trans,  to  Iny.  C. 

Lemuel  M.  Cox,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Abner  H.  Clement,  deserted  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Charles  Dresser,  discharged  July  29,  1861. 

David  W.  Colburn,  pro.  to  Sergeant.    Killed  July  2, 1863. 

Sylvester  M.  Gordon,  died  Aug.  16, 1861. 

James  C.  Furbush,  discharged  July  29, 1861. 

MUSICIAN. 

Charles  R.  Farnum,  discharged. 


COMPANY    C.  187 


WAGONER. 

Sullivan  Silver,  discharged. 


Allen,  Frederick  R.,  discharged  July  10, 1861. 

Allen,  Lester  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Ball,  Kimball,  deserted  July  21, 1861. 

Barker,  John  A.,  pro.  to  Corp.    W'n'd  July  2,  '63.    Disch'd  June  7,  '64. 

Black,  Horace  W.,  discharged. 

Brown,  Charles  W.,  deserted  Aug.  25,  1862. 

Bean,  Edward  D.,  promoted  to  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Bartlett,  Charles,  deserted  July  27,  1861. 

Calef,  William,  taken  prisoner  July  2, 1863,  and  died  in  hands  of  enemy. 

Carey,  Henry  P.,  discharged  July  29,  1861. 

Clement,  Charles  C.,  discharged  July  10,  1861. 

Chase,  John,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Wounded  and  missing  July  2, 1863. 

Clark,  Edward,  promoted  to  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Cole,  John  H.,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Colby,  Harvey  M.,  deserted,  captured  and  pardoned  on  re-enlistment. 

Conuel,  Andrew  M.,  wounded  July  21, 1861.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Craig,  George  W.,  mustered  out  June  21,  18"64. 

Davis,  Hazen,  Jr.,  wounded  July  3,  1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Davis,  John,  pro.  Corp.    Captured  July  21,  '61.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Davis,  Martin  V.  B.,  discharged  Aug.  31.  1861. 

Dearborn,  Lewis  H.,  wounded  and  discharged  Sept.  26,  1862. 

Dearborn,  Frederick  W.,  deserted  Jan.  29, 1862. 

Dresser,  John  C.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Deserted  March  20, 1863, 

Emerson,  Thurlow  A.,  deserted  June  9,  1863. 

Everett,  Henry  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864, 

Farley,  Bernard  J.,  discharged  Dec.  23,  1861, 

Fife,  Henry  C.,  discharged  July  29, 1861. 

Fitzgerald,  William,  wounded  and  discharged  Feb.  19, 1863. 

Fowler,  Barnett  E.,  deserted  June  30, 1863. 

French,  Charles  L.,  re-enlisted. 

Hadley,  George,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Deserted. 

Hanson,  George  R.,  deserted  Dec.,  1862. 

Hastings,  Cornelius,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Horn,  Stephen  B.,  deserted  July  5, 1861. 

Holmes,  WTillard  M.,  pro.  to  Sergeant.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Hill,  Harvey,  discharged  Sept.  12, 1862. 

Hudson,  William,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Kendall,  William  G.,  died  Nov.  15, 1861. 

Kelso,  William  C.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 


188  APPENDIX. 

Kidder,  Samuel  A.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Levering,  Samuel  G.,  discharged  August  31, 18G1. 

Lord,  James  J.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Mason,  John  A.,  discharged  July  10,  1861. 

Martin,  Daniel,  captured  July  21,  1861.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Meader,  Hamilton  A.,  promoted  to  Corp.    Deserted  Feb.  10, 1863. 

Morse,  Elijah,  discharged  May  22,  1862. 

McGovern,  Felix,  w'n'd  July  2, '63.    Pro.  Corp.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

McGlauflin,  Charles,  re-enlisted.    Promoted  to  1st  Lieut. 

Noyes,  George,  discharged  July  10, 1861. 

Nichols,  Andrew,  missing  July  2,  1863. 

Nichols,  John,  discharged  July  10,  1861. 

Nixon,  George  W.,  re-enlisted.    Promoted  to  1st  Lieut. 

Perry,  George  F.,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  Oct.  9, 1862. 

Pickup,  George,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Plummer,  Edwin,  w'n'd  July  2,  '63. ,  Pro.  Corp.    Mus.  out  June  21,  ?64. 

Pratt,  Charles  A.,  deserted  May  24/1863. 

Pike,  Timothy  H.,  discharged  Sept  1,  1861. 

Quimby,  Jonathan  C.,  discharged  Oct.  31,  1861. 

Quimby,  James  M.,  pro.  to  Sergeant.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Quimby,  William  H.,  killed  July  21, 1861. 

Randall,  George  W.,  discharged  Aug.  31, 1861. 

Rand,  Charles  J.,  discharged  Aug.  31, 1861. 

Reynolds,  George  M.,  discharged. 

Relation,  Lewis  N.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  21, 1861. 

Richards,  John  E.,  deserted  Nov.  29,  1862,  returned  April  20, 1864. 

Sargent,  George  H.,  pro.  Sergt.    W'd  July  2,  ?63.    Mus.  out  June  21,  '64. 

Sauborn,  Alfred  J.,  discharged  July  29, 1861. 

Sawyer,  Joseph  C.,  wounded  and  captured  July  2, 1863. 

Smith,  William,  discharged  Sept.  1, 1861. 

Smith,  Alvin  R.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Stark,  John  M.,  discharged  July  3, 1863. 

Stearns,  John  M.,  discharged. 

Stevens,  Horatio  N.,  discharged  July  29, 1861. 

Sherburne,  Laroy  D.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Tabor,  Charles  L..  wounded  Aug.  29, 1862.    Discharged  Feb.  4, 1863. 

Tilton,  William  H.,  discharged  July  29,  1861. 

Tuttle,  George  B.,  discharged  March  17, 1864. 

Tuttle,  Marcus  M.,  discharged  Aug.  24, 1861. 

Tucker,  Franklin  K.f  pro.  Cor.  W'd  June  3, 1864.    Mus.  out  June  21,  '64. 

Wethcrbee,  Franklin  F.,  w'd  July  21, 1861,  and  died  in  hands  of  enemy. 

Weeks,  William  H.,  deserted  Aug.  4,  1863. 

Worcester,  George,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 


COMPANY   D.  189 

COMPANY   D. 

SERGEANTS. 

Jacob  Hall,  First  Sergt.    Pro.  to  First  Lieut.    Wounded  May  16, 1864. 

[Miis.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Henry  Hayward,  pro.  to  First  Lieut.    Killed  June  2, 1864. 
Moses  Otis,  discharged  July  30, 1861. 
Euoch  F.  Demerett,  died  Aug.  11, 1862. 
Thomas  Walker,  discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 

CORPORALS. 

Wilson  Gray,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Discharged  Oct.  31, 1862. 
Theron  F.  Varney,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Deserted  May  25, 1863. 
Edwin  S.  Tash,  discharged  July  30,  1861. 
James  M.  Venner,  discharged  July  18, 1862. 
Moses  J.  Colby,  discharged  July  30, 1861. 
David  0.  Davis,  discharged  Sept.  21, 1862. 
Luther  W.  Chadwick,  discharged  Aug.  17, 1861. 
Daniel  Sherburne,  discharged  Oct.  15, 1862. 

MUSICIANS. 

Charles  G.  Hill,  discharged  Aug.  28, 1861. 
Charles  E.  Hale,  discharged  Aug.  28, 1861. 

WAGONER. 

James  Thompson,  re-enlisted. 

PRIVATES. 

Abbott,  Alexander  L.,  discharged  Sept.  21, 1862. 

Adams,  Enoch  G.,  app.  Capt.  2d  U.  S.  Vols. 

Ayers,  Joseph  F.,  discharged  May  23, 1863. 

Blake,  James  W.,  discharged  Oct.  1, 1861. 

Brennon,  John  W.,  deserted  Aug.  9, 1861. 

Burnham,  Moses,  deserted  July  7, 1862. 

Chadbourn,  Moses  W.,  deserted  July  7, 1862,  and  returned. 

Chase,  John,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Clay,  Bradley,  died  Oct.  6, 1861. 

Corson,  Monroe  J.,  discharged  April  22, 1862. 

Coyle,  Thomas  C.,  discharged  May  23, 1863. 

Cross,  Ezra  P.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Currier,  James  H.,  discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 

Davis,  James,  discharged  May  23, 1863. 

Deshon,  Stephen  M.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Downs,  Calvin  C.,  re-enlisted. 

Drew,  Dana  L.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 


190  APPENDIX. 

Drew,  Martin  V.,  discharged  July  29,  1861. 

Drew,  Warren  C.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Durgin,  John  H.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  Nov.  1, 1864. 

Dyer,  Albion,  deserted  May  25, 18G3. 

Emerson,  Henry  H.,  discharged  June  30, 1862. 

Foss,  Samuel  A.,  wounded  Jnly  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Foss,  Solomon  W.,  died  Feb.  5, 1863. 

Garland,  Wingate,  discharged  Feb.  17,  1863. 

Gerrish,  Benjamin  F.,  deserted  May  2">,  1863. 

Goodwin,  Ezra  C.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Wounded  July  2, 1863.    Re-enlisted. 

Grover,  Charles  A.,  re-enlisted. 

<5ravlin,  Francis,  deserted  Oct.  11, 1863. 

Hanscoin,  John  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hardison,  John  F.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hayes,  John  0.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Head,  Alvah  K.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Heath,  Franklin  W.,  re-enlisted. 

Hunt,  Israel  T.,  discharged  Sept.  2, 1861. 

Jackson,  Charles,  re-enlisted. 

Jenness,  Henry  0.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Jones,  Charles  E.,  pro.  to  Sergeant.    Re-enlisted. 

Jones,  Christie  L.,  discharged  July  30, 1862. 

Kane,  Peter,  discharged  June  21, 1862. 

Kidder,  Aluen  F.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Heathers,  Alphonso  D.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Logan,  Johnson  C.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Lord,  John  F.,  missing  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Lord,  Oliver,  re-enlisted. 

Mahoney,  Thomas  J.,  discharged  Feb.  11, 1863. 

McCabe,  John,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Merrill,  Noah  D.,  died  of  wounds  Sept.  16, 1863. 

Miller,  Robert,  pro.  2d  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Morrison,  Andrew,  discharged  July  30, 1861. 

Molloy,  John,  discharged  April  21, 1862. 

Molly,  Peter,  pro.  Corp.    Discharged  May  23, 1863. 

Osborne,  John,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Otis,  John  H.,  transferred  to  Yet.  Reserve  Corps. 

Pendergast,  George  P.,  killed  May  5, 1862. 

Perkins,  Charles  C.,  deserted  Aug.  24, 1863. 

Pinkhaui,  Andrew  J.,  discharged  Aug.  21,  1861, 

Place,  Charles  H.,  deserted  Dec.  19, 1862. 

Porter,  Festus,  discharged  Aug.  24, 1861. 

Ramsey,  Newton  A.,  pro.  to  1st  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 


COMPANY   E.  191 

Randall,  Horace,  discharged  Aug.  21, 1861. 

Roberts,  Charles  P.,  died  of  wounds  Oct.  23, 1862. 

Roberts,  Charles  R.,  unaccounted  for. 

Rogers,  Stephen  H.,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Sanborn,  John  H.,  discharged  July  30, 1861. 

Saunders,  Charles  C.,  missing  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Scruton,  George  H.,  deserted  Dec.  9, 1862. 

Smith,  Moses  L.  F.,  pro.  to  Sergt.  Maj.  Re-enlisted.    Killed  June  2, 1864. 

Stark,  William  G.,  re-enlisted.    Promoted  to  Assistant  Surgeon. 

Stearns,  George  H.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Killed  July  3, 1863. 

Stevens,  Abram  C.,  died  May  1,  1862. 

Stevens,  Benj.  F.,  deserted  May  25, 1863. 

Tibbetts,  James  H.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Talhour,  Charles  A.,  died  Feb.  1, 1863. 

Tripp,  William  H.,  deserted  May  25,  1863. 

Varney,  John  S.,  pro.  Corp.    W'd  July  2,  1863.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Waldron,  John  F.,  discharged  Oct.  31, 1861. 

Wallace,  Sylvester  B.,  discharged  May  1,  1862. 

Walsh,  Richard,  discharged  Feb.  11, 1863. 

Watson,  Charles  E.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Welch,  Benjamin  F.,  deserted  June  30,  1862. 

West,  Henry,  deserted  May  25, 1863. 

Willey,  Nathaniel,  discharged  March  26, 1863. 

COMPANY    E. 

SERGEANTS. 

Albert  M.  Perkins,  First  Sergeant.    Pro.  Capt.    Lost  arm  at  Gettysburg. 

[Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Isaac  N.  Vesper,  Pro.  First  Lieut.    Resigned  May  6, 1863. 
Hiram  F.  Durgin,  killed  in  action  Aug.  29, 1862. 
Joseph  Wolcott,  disch.  for  disability  March  18, 1863. 
Henry  M.  Gordon,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

CORPORALS. 

Arthur  T.  Leonard,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  10,  1861. 
George  A.  Jones,  pro.  Sergt.    Died  of  wounds  July  2, 1862. 
Wm.  H.  Colcord,  pro.  First  Lt.    W?d  at  Cold  Har.    Must,  out  June,  '64. 
James  Thompson,  re-enlisted. 

George  A.  Taylor,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  2,  1861. 
Joseph  C.  Swett,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  2, 1861. 
Nathan  E.  Kuse,  pro.  Sergt.    Died  of  wounds  Aug.  1, 1863. 
Orren  Brock,  re-enlisted. 


192  APPENDIX. 

MUSICIANS. 

John  H.  Hale,  discharged  by  order  Aug.  30, 1862. 

Clarence  A.  Brackett,  transferred  to  Co.  C  July  20, 1861.    Deserted. 

WAGONER. 

Philip  C.  Eastman,  re-enlisted. 

PRIVATES. 

Alden,  Frank  W.,  re-enlisted. 

Bacon,  Josiah  H.,  deserted  near  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  Dec.  13, 1862. 

Brooks,  Woodbury,  missing  in  action  Feb.,  1863. 

Bruze,  John  H.,  missing  in  action  July  1, 1862. 

Bride,  John  W.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Baker,  Jacob  B.,  disch.  for  disability  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Bennett,  John  H.,  transferred  to  4th  U.  S.  Art'y  Nov.  4, 1862. 

Brown,  George  L.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Bean,  William  C.,  discharged  for  disability  March  14, 1863. 

Colcord,  Charles  E.,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  2, 1863. 

Crane,  Henry  0.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Currier,  Andrew  J.,  w'd  severely  June  2, 1863.    Must,  out  June  21,  1864. 

Colbath,  Levi  W.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Chase,  Howard  J.,  unaccounted  for. 

Chase,  Charles  H.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  21, 1861. 

Carlton,  Wilton  H.,  unaccounted  for. 

Carmey,  James  M.,  unaccounted  for. 

Church,  Freeman  L.,  disch.  for  disability  Aug.  5,  1861. 

Cliesley,  Joseph  M.,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  2, 1863. 

Davis,  Daniel  T.,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Durgin  Abner  F.,  promoted  to  Quartermaster. 

Dearborn,  Calvin  L.,  died  in  hospital  Nov.  16, 1861. 

Dudley,  John  F.,  pro.  First  Sergeant.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Ellison,  Frank,  unaccounted  for. 

Everett,  Aaron,  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  1, 1863. 

Everett,  Joseph,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  2,  1861. 

Emerson,  John  A.,  captured  at  Gettysburg,  July  2,  1863. 

Elkius,  Geo.  S.,  died  at  Washington  Dec.  2, 1862. 

Flood,  Charles  A.  W.,  deserted  Dec.  26, 1862. 

Flood,  Samuel,  disch.  for  disability  March  15,  1862. 

French,  Geo.  W.,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  30,1861. 

Gravlin,  Peter,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Haley,  William,  died  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  March  4, 1863. 

Heath,  Simeon  M.,  re-enlisted. 

Haines,  Isaiah  T.,  pro.  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Jones,  John  W.,  promoted  to  Sergt.    Captured  July  2, 1863. 


COMPANY   E. 

Jones,  Josiah,  unaccounted  for. 

Knight,  William  T.,  discharged  Aug.  29, 1861. 

Long,  Nicholas,  pro.  Corp.     W'd  June  3,  1864.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Lavine,  Edward,  discharged  Aug.  29, 1861. 

Leavitt,  Elbridge  H.,  discharged  Oct.  16, 1862. 

Lamprey,  John,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Lamprey,  David,  discharged  Oct.  4, 1862. 

Locke,  Charles  A.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Muzzy,  John  B.,  missing  in  action,  July  29,  1862. 

Merserve,  Joseph  C.,  discharged  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Masters,  Charles  A.,  deserted  Nov.  1, 1862. 

Murphy,  Dennis,  re-enlisted. 

Morrill,  William  H.,  unaccounted  for. 

Morse,  Joseph  D.,  discharged  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Morse,  Joseph  R.,  discharged  Nov.  13,  1862. 

Parker,  Edwin  T.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Pike,  David,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Pervere,  Orren,  deserted  May  24, 1863. 

Quinn,  William  J.,  pro.  Sergt.    W'd  July  2, 1863.    Mus.  out  June  21,  '64. 

Rowell,  Martin  P.,  discharged  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Rowell,  Abram  M.,  re-enlisted. 

Robertson,  Harrison,  discharged  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Robinson,  William,  w'd  July  2,  1863.    Pro.  Sergt.  Mus.  out  J'e  21, 1864. 

Randlett,  George  H.,  deserted  Oct.  2, 1862. 

Robinson,  John  S.,  deserted  Oct.  13, 1862. 

Rogers,  Daniel  A.,  died  Oct.  8, 1862. 

Sullivan,  John.  Jr.,  discharged  Sept.  30, 1861. 

Smith,  Charles  H.,  discharged  Aug.  16, 1861. 

Smith,  Horace  0.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Smith,  Daniel  G.,  died  of  wounds,  March  2, 1863. 

Sorrill,  Abram,  discharged  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Stover,  Alcot,  missing  in  action  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Shaw,  Henry  M.,  deserted  May  25, 1863. 

Storey,  William  H.  H.,  discharged  May,  1863. 

Storin,  Michael,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  May  15, 1863. 

Thurston,  John  0.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Thyng,  George  H.,  re-enlisted. 

Tetherly,  John  B.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Treferthen,  Francis  G.,  unaccounted  for. 

Tanner,  Jeremiah,  re- enlisted. 

Wentworth,  Jacob,  discharged  Aug.  2, 1861, 

Willey,  Horace  J.,  mustered  out  Aug.  28, 1864. 

Walker,  Richard  A.,  unaccounted  for. 


194 


APPENDIX. 


Whicher,  John  W.,  discharged  Sept.  27, 1862. 
Wood,  Lewis,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 
Weeks,  George,  discharged  March  8, 18G3. 
Young,  Alvin,  re-enlisted. 


COMPANY    F. 

SERGEANTS. 

Welcome  A.  Crafts,  First  Sergeant,  pro.  to  First  Lieut.  5th  N.  H.  V. 

Freedom  M.  Rhodes,  promoted  to  Captain,  14th  N.  H.  V. 

Hugh  R.  Richardson,  pro.  to  Captain.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Charles  W.  Fletcher,  discharged  July  21, 1861. 

Lovell  W.  Brackett,  missing  in  action  July  21, 1861. 

CORPORALS. 

William  0.  Lyford,  discharged  Sept.  4, 1861. 

William  H.  Tucker,  deserted  Feb.  14,  1862. 

Osco  H.  French,  unaccounted  for. 

James  S.  Merrow,  re-enlisted. 

John  Chandler,  discharged  March  15,  1863. 

David  Clark,  deserted  Oct.  4, 1862. 

Richard  0.  Young,  died  June  29, 1862. 

James  H.  Swain,  promoted  to  2d  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

MUSICIAN. 
James  A.  Wiggin,  discharged  Nov.  1,  1862. 

WAGONER. 

Wentworth  Goodwin,  died  March  27, 1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Adler,  Lorenzo  D.,  pro.  Sergt.    Re-enlisted  Jan.  1, 1864. 

Alexander,  William,  discharged  July  21, 1861. 

Aldrich,  George,  deserted  Oct.  4, 1862. 

Ames,  John  G.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Cap.  July  2,  '63,  died  in  hands  of  enemy. 

Barney,  John,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army,  Dec.  6,  1862. 

Buck,  Charles,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds,  Jan.  21,  1862. 

Burt,  George,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Benway,  Joseph,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army  Dec.  6, 1862. 

Bean,  Darius  K.,  pro.  Corp.     W'd  July  2, '63.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Brown,  Robert,  discharged  Feb.  9, 1863. 

Bassett,  Sylvester  F.,  missing  in  action  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Bancroft,  William  E.,  pro.  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Bachelder,  Hiram  H.,  died  March  4, 1863. 


COMPANY   F.  195 

Baker,  James  FT.,  pro.  to  1st  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Bresenhen,  James,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Corliss,  Charles  F.,  died  July  27, 1861. 

Corliss,  Joseph  G.,  died  March  4,  1863. 

Clement,  John  S.,  deserted  June  27, 1863. 

Chase,  George  S.,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  Sept.  5, 1861. 

Chancy,  George  A.,  re-enlisted. 

Clough,  Samuel  H.,  died  Aug.  27, 1862. 

Colbath,  Uriah  S.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Clark,  David  J.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Cook,  Mark  F.,  enlisted  in  Reg.  Army,  Oct.  31,  1862. 

Cloutman,  James  A.,  deserted  July  3, 1861. 

Dame,  Oliver  M.,  re-enlisted.    Pro.  to  Commissary  Sergeant. 

Dow,  George  E.,  discharged  July  4,  1862. 

Dore,  Charles  H.,  wrd  July  2,  '63.    Pro.  Corp.    Disch'd  June  1, 1864. 

Eastman,  Charles  H.,  pro.  to  1st  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Flint,  Henry  A.,  pro.  to  1st  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Folletts,  Francis  A.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Folsom,  Peaslee  H.,  discharged  Jan.  1, 1862. 

Foye,  James  H.,  discharged  July  31, 1861. 

Gaines,  Edgar,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army  Dec.  6, 1862. 

Goldsmith,  William  H.,  pro.  to  Corporal.     Re-enli?ted. 

Henderson,  John,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2, 1«63. 

Billiard,  Henry  S.,  pro.  to  2d  Lieut.  5th  N.  H.  V. 

Hagan,  James,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Harriman,  Allen  0.,  re-enlisted. 

Johnson,  Bernard,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Jewctt,  Charles  E.,  killed  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Jones,  Jonathan,  discharged  March  15, 1863. 

Kenney,  Thomas,  missing  in  action  July  2, 1863. 

Leach,  John  H.,  discharged  Aug.  21, 1861. 

Labornty,  William  A.,  died  of  wounds  at  Alexandria,  Va. 

Morgan,  George,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Mayhew,  James,  re-enlisted. 

Merrill,  Cyrus  W.,  missing  in  action  July  21,  1861. 

Merrill,  Simon,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Discharged  June  1,  1864. 

McCaffrey,  Patrick,  died  July  8,  1862. 

Moody,  Ammon,  discharged  Aug.  12, 1863. 

Murry,  William  F.,  hung  for  murder  Aug.  2, 1861. 

Mead,  James  M.,  discharged  Oct.  23,  1861. 

Nutter,  Charles  F.,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army  Dec.  6, 1862. 

Orel  way,  John,  discharged  March  15, 1863. 

Plummer,  John  A.,  deserted  Aug.  25, 1862. 


196  APPENDIX. 

Piper,  William  H.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Paul,  Frank,  re-enlisted. 

Peterson,  Calvin  B.,  deserted  June  27, 18G3. 

Parrish,  William  E.,  discharged  July  31, 1861. 

Robinson,  George,  discharged  Oct.  23,  1861. 

Rollins,  Solomon,  deserted  July  3, 1861. 

Rollins,  Isaac  C.,  died  June  16, 18G2. 

Staples,  William  H.  F.,  wounded  July  2,  '63.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Severance,  Thomas  J.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2, 1863. 

Stevens,  Clark,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Sargent,  Albert  M.,  deserted  Feb.,  1863. 

Smith,  Herman,  pro.  to  Corp.    Died  of  wounds  June  7, 1862. 

Sanborn,  Benjamin,  deserted  June  27, 1863. 

Saunders,  Edmund,  discharged  Feb.  17,  1863. 

Stillings,  James  G.,  deserted  June  27, 1863. 

Sauuders,  John  0.,  discharged  Oct.  2, 1862. 

Thurston,  Icliabod  H.,  discharged  June  20, 1863. 

Tibbetts,  Stephen  R.,  discharged  Aug.  21, 1863. 

Vittuui,  George  S.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2, 1863. 

Witham,  Levi,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Wallace,  Ira  M.,  wounded  Aug.  29, 1862.    Discharged  Oct.  13, 1862. 

Wiser,  John  R.,  discharged  Oct.  23, 1861. 

Willis,  Charles  H.,  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  Sept.  1, 1863. 

Wiggin,  James  M.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Wilkinson,  Joseph  H.,  pro.  to  2d  Lieut.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Willey,  Orrin,  deserted  July  17, 1861. 

COMPANY   G. 

SERGEANTS. 

David  Steele,  First  Sergeant.    Pro.  to  Capt.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Hiram  K.  Ladd,  pro.  to  1st  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Thomas  E.  Marshall,  pro.  to  1st  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Orrin  S.  Leighton,  unaccounted  for. 

Frank  A.  Fletcher,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

CORPORALS. 

Enoch  F.  Jackman,  w'd  July  2,  1863.    Pro.  1st  Lt.  1st  U.  S.  Col'd  Tr'ps. 

Elmer  J.  Starkey,  discharged  Jan.  19,  1863. 

William  G.  Wolcott,  discharged  Feb.  16,  1863. 

Edmund  Dascomb,  pro.  2d  Lieut.    Died  of  wounds  July  13,  1863. 

John  A.  Hartshorn,  killed  May  5,  1862. 

Merrill  N.  Hunt,  died  Aug.  29, 1862. 


COMPANY   G.  197 

John  Reagan,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Charles  F.  Noyes,  wounded  July  2, 1863,  and  transferred  to  Inv.  Corps. 

MUSICIAN. 
Orlando  W.  Garvin,  re-enlisted. 

WAGONER. 
David  M.  Hibbard,  discharged  May  28, 1863. 

PRIVATES. 

Ames,  Alpha  E.f  discharged  Aug.  17, 1861. 

Aldrich,  Daniel  J.,  discharged. 

Barrett,  Charles  A.,  deserted  June  25,  1863. 

Baxter,  Albert  F.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Bragg,  Charles  H.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Buck,  Simon  C.,  deserted  Nov.  29, 1862. 

Barley,  Alonzo  B.,  died  in  hands  of  enemy  Sept.  12,  1861. 

Bean,  Burnis  R.,  unaccounted  for. 

Bowman,  Henry  E.,  discharged  on  ace.  of  wounds,  Nov.  1, 1861. 

Beard,  Samuel  J.,  discharged  Dec.  9, 1862. 

Bourne,  John,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Bolio,  Joseph,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Bagley,  Isaiah,  deserted  April  4,  1864. 

Collister,  Charles  0.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Coburne,  George  C.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Currier,  George  W.,  discharged  Jan.  24,  1862. 

Carson,  Jacob  W.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Coffin,  William  D.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Duncklee,  Sylvester  C.,  w'd  July  2, 1863.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Dillon,  Michael  A.,  discharged  Oct.  18,  1863. 

Duffey,  Nicholas,  captured  July  2,  1863. 

Darling,  James  A.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Dix,  Charles  H.,  discharged  Dec.  3, 1861. 

Driver,  Francis,  w'd  July  2,  1863.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Felt,  George  D.,  died  Nov.  6, 1862. 

Farnsworth,  Albert  J.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Foster, ^Charles  E.,  re-enlisted. 

Forbush,  Abbott  A.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Fox,  John  M.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Furnald,  William  H.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Gould,  Gilman  T.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Gould,  Daniel  W.,  discharged. 

Goulding,  Charles  H.,  discharged  Aug.  7,  1861. 

Glazier,  Van  Buren,  unaccounted  for. 


198  APPENDIX. 

Green,  Daniel  H.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hutchinson,  Timothy  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hutchinson,  James  W.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hannaford,  Alonzo  M.,  pro.  Sergt.    W'd  July  2,  '63.  Mus.  out  J'e  21,  '64. 

Hall,  Newman,  died  Dec.  11,  1862. 

Heard,  Nelson,  died  June  3, 1803. 

Holt,  Charles  F.,  discharged  Oct.  31, 1862. 

Hix,  Curtis,  wn'd  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Hall,  Marvin  J.,  died  of  wounds  Sept.  16, 1862. 

Hibbard,  Joel  E.,  discharged  July  16, 1861. 

Hagan,  John,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Houle,  John  B.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Haynes,  A.  C.,  re-enlisted. 

Hines,  John  D.,  w'd  July  2, 1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Hutchinson,  Albert  S.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Hoagg,  George  M.,  pro.  Corp.    W'd  July  2,  '63.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Jones,  Henry  L.,  died  Nov.  14, 1861. 

Joslin,  Levi  J.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Kenney,  John,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Lawrence,  Charles  E.,  re-enlisted. 

Lyle,  Alexander,  killed  May  5, 1862. 

Mellen,  James  L.,  died  June  19,  1863. 

Moore,  John  J.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

McRobie,  Alexander,  killed  July  2,  1863. 

Nutting,  Augustus  G.,  discharged  Dec.  3,  1861. 

Noyes,  Frank  F.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Discharged  Dec.  27, 1863. 

Pingree,  George  R.,  discharged  Aug.  9,  1862. 

Pinkham,  Charles  B.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Pettingill,  William,  discharge  J  Jan.  19, 1863. 

Place,  George,  discharged  /fay  22,  1862. 

Peaslee,  Charles  E.,  killed  May  5, 1862. 

Peabody,  Daniel  A.,  discaarged  July  16,  1861. 

Quimby,  Jonas  T.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Richard,  Levi,  re-enliste  d. 

Russell,  Frederick,  re-enlisted. 

Shaw,  Lyman,  discharged. 

Shedd,  Herman,  killed  «>une  25, 1862. 

Saunders,  James  E.,  pro.  to  Sergt.  Major.    Re-enlisted. 

Smith,  Arthur  P.,  discharged  Aug.  7,  1861. 

Sawtelle,  William  W.,  died  Oct.  26, 1861. 

Titus,  Henry,  discharged  Sept.  22, 1861. 

Twiss,  John,  died  July  2,  1861. 

Vose,  John  M.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 


COMPANY    II .  199 

Wellman,  James  M.,  discharged  Jan.  30, 1863. 
Wright,  Edward,  discharged  Oct.  31,  1862. 
Whitney,  George  G.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 
Wilson,  Stephen  D.,  discharged  Aug.  3, 1861. 
Winn,  Harvey  H.,  killed  Aug.  29,  1862. 
Weller,  William  W.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 
Walcott,  John  S.,  discharged  Aug.  3, 1861. 

COMPANY    H. 

SERGEANTS. 

John  F.  Holman,  First  Sergt.    Pro.  Capt.     Seve'ly  wounded  at  Second 

[Bull  Run.    Trans,  to  Inv.  Corps. 
Charles  Messer,  discharged  for  disability  Oct.  1, 1861. 
Albert  A.  Emerson,  discharged  for  disability  Oct.  1,  1861. 
Joseph  K.  Pearl,  discharged  for  disability  Oct  1, 1861. 
Andrew  G.  Bracy,  pro.  First  Lieut.    Must,  out  June  21,  1864. 

CORPORALS. 

Oscar  C.  Allen,  died  disease  Oct.  18, 1862. 

William  Montgomery,  w'ded  sev.  July  2,  1863.    Pro.  Sec.  Lt.    Mus.  out 
George  F.  Goodwin,  discharged  for  disability  Oct.  1,  '61.    [June  21, 1864. 
James  B.  Silver,  dis.  for  disability  Nov.  19,  1863. 
Geo.  B.  Tenney,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

James  B.  Reed,  pro.  Sergt.  Wd.  sev.  at  Gettysburg.  Dis.  by  order  Dec. 
James  W.  Clark,  commis;d  18th  Maine  Vols.  Aug.  20,  1862.  [8, 1863. 
Selden  T.  Chandler,  enlisted  in  4th  U.  S.  Arty.  Nov.  1, 1862. 

MUSICIAN. 
Eleazer  D.  Noyes,  died  of  wounds  May  5,  1862. 

WAGONER. 

Lorenzo  D.  Allard,  discharged  for  disability. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  Heman,  pro.  Corporal.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Allen,  Edward  S.,  missing  at  Gettysburg.    Died  at  Columbus,  Ga. 

Andrew,  James  H.,  pro.  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Barber,  Lewis  G.,  deserted  July  21, 1861. 

Beatry,  Thomas,  deserted  from  hosp.,  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  Aug.  7, 1863. 

Burke,  Henry,  enlisted  in  4th  U.  S.  Arty.  Dec.  6,  1862. 

Bowman,  Henry,  deserted  Oct.  12, 1862. 

Buntin,  John  B.,  missing  at  Bull  Run,  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Conner,  William  H.,  died  in  hands  of  the  enemy. 

Coffin,  William  H.,  discharged  Jan.  27, 1863. 

Collins,  Proctor,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 


200  APPENDIX. 

Chase  Alonzo,  dis.  for  disability  April  27, 1864. 

Chase,  George  L.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Corbit,  Andrew,  deserted  at  Concord  May  5,  1863. 

Currier,  George  D.,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  6,  1861. 

Came,  Virgil  M.,  discharged  for  disability  March  24,  1863. 

Clement,  Wyman  R.,  died  of  disease  Aug.  1,  1801. 

Downing,  Joshua,  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Davis  Ziba  L.,  enlisted  in  4th  U.  S.  Art.  Dec.  6, 1862. 

Eastman,  Frank  A.,  killed  at  Bull  Run  July  21,  1861. 

Elliott,  John  A.,  deserted  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  10,  1863. 

Farmer,  Lucius,  deserted  July  2,  1801. 

Flanders,  Henry  J.,  pro.  Corp.    Disch.  for  disability  Sept.  29, 1862. 

Foster,  William  H.,  died  of  disease  April  11,  1804. 

Francis,  Daniel  S.,  wd.  sev.  July  2, 1863.    Must,  out  June  21, 1864. 

Finnigan,  Thomas,  pro.  Sergt.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Friend,  Franklin,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Farrington,  George  H.,  died  of  disease  July  14,  1861. 

Goodwin,  John  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Grout,  Galen  H.,  discharged  July  21, 1862. 

Goodrich,  William  H.,  disch.  for  disability  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Harnbleton,  Albert,  discharged  May  20, 1863. 

Hanson,  Harlow  P.,  deserted  Sept.  3, 1862. 

Hanson,  Albert  J.,  pro.  Ser.    Wd.  severely  at  Gettysburg.    Re-enlisted. 

Haley,  Michael  C.,  pro.  Corp.    Deserted  at  Concord  May  5,  1863. 

Hill,  Clarence  M.,  re-enlisted. 

Hoyt,  Hugh,  disch.  for  disability  Sept.  21, 1861. 

Hobbs,  John  F.,  deserted  at  Fair  Oaks,  June  27,  1862. 

Harvey,  Abner  F.,  died  Feb.  13,  1863. 

Hannaford,  Abial  A.,  re-enlisted. 

Hanlon,  Michael,  unaccounted  for. 

Hoyt,  James  J.,  discharged  Aug.  15, 1861. 

Joy,  Samuel  M.,  discharged  June  23, 1863. 

Kearns,  Patrick,  killed  July  21, 1861. 

Looby,  Hugh,  unaccounted  for. 

Langtus,  George,  died  in  hands  of  enemy. 

Lord,  John  W.,  pro.  to  2d  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1804. 

Lord,  Woodbury,  died  Feb.  20, 1863. 

Lord,  Albion,  died  in  hands  of  the  enemy. 

Manahan,  John,  deserted  Sept.  3, 1862. 

Mott,  Perkins  F.,  discharged  Aug.  15,  1861. 

Mullen,  Michael,  discharged  Feb.  24, 1863. 

Nash,  Philip  E.,  deserted  Sept.  5,  1862. 

Orr,  Julius,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 


COMPANY   I. 

Page,  Horace,  discharged  Oct.  23, 1861. 

Parker,  Eugene  A.,  enlisted  in  4th  U.  S.  Artillery,  Dec.  6, 1862. 

Parrish,  Lyman  F.,  died  Feb.  20,  1863. 

Patrick,  Henry  W.,  unaccounted  for. 

Philbrick,  William  R.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Re-enlisted. 

Poor,  Samuel,  pro.  to  Corp.    Taken  prisoner  July  2, 1863. 

Putnam,  Charles  E.,  killed  May  5,  1862. 

Ricker,  David  L.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Richardson,  James,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Roy,  Henry  F.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Sawyer,  Adoniram  J.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Saxton,  William,  deserted  May  6,  1863. 

Saxton,  Timothy,  discharged  June  19, 1863. 

Smith,  Charles  H.,  died  Oct.  27,  1864. 

Smith,  Erastus,  discharged  for  disability. 

Straw,  Andrew  J.,  died  in  hands  of  enemy. 

Straw,  John,  discharged  Feb.  1,  1863. 

Straw,  George  H.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Swett,  Nathaniel  F.,  pro.  Sergt.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Symonds,  John  G.,  discharged  Dec.  10,  1861. 

Tallen,  Joseph,  deserted  Sept.  28,  1862. 

Tibbetts,  Henry,  discharged  April  22,  1862. 

Wiggin,  James  M.,  discharged  Nov.  27,  1862. 

Wilkinson,  James,  discharged  July  29,  1862. 

Williams,  George  W.,  re-enlisted. 

Walker,  William  H.,  discharged  July  21,  1862. 

Wright,  Nelson,  deserted  Oct.  12,  1862. 

Wetherbee,  Charles  W.,  discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 


COMPANY  I. 

SERGEANTS. 

Homer  M.  Crafts,  First  Sergt.    Discharged  May  28, 1862. 
David  M.  Perkins,  promoted  to  2d  Lieut.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 
Rodney  A.  Manning,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cav.,  Oct.  27, 1862. 
Oscar  A.  Mooar,  pro.  to  1st  Lt.     Died  July  31,  1863. 
Thorndike  P.  Heath,  discharged  Sept.  20, 1862. 

CORPORALS. 

William  H.  Griffin,  discharged  July  29,  1863. 
Hazen  B.  Martin,  discharged  June  18,  1863. 
Perkins  C.  Lane,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cav.,  Oct.  22, 1862. 

Stephen  H.  Palmer,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2, 1863. 
y 


201 


202  APPENDIX. 

Charles  Vickery,  pro.  to  2d  Lieut.    Died  of  w?ds  rec'd  July  2,  1863. 
Charles  H.  Smiley,  killed  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Stephen  J.  Smiley,  pro.  to  Principal  Musician.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 
Frank  C.  Wasley,  pro.  1st  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

MUSICIANS. 

Samuel  T.  Newell,  enlisted  in  2d  TJ.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  27,  1862. 
Daniel  W.  Newell,  pro.  to  Prin.  Mus.    Discharged  Jan.  22,  1863. 

WAGONER. 

Daniel  Mix,  deserted  while  on  furlough. 

PRIVATES. 

Appleton,  William  H.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Discharged  July  30,  1863. 

Aldrich,  Lyman  M.,  wounded  July  2, 1863.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Adams,  Benjamin  W.,  deserted  and  arrested. 

Allison,  Samuel,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Burns,  Michael,  deserted  July  30,  1861. 

Burns,  James  G.,  discharged  Nov.  5,  1862. 

Boutelle,  Frank  M.,  discharged  May  29,  1863. 

Biglin,  Nicholas  M.,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry,  Oct.  27, 1862. 

Brown,  John,  killed  June  25,  1862. 

Barry,  John  H.,  discharged  June  2,  1862. 

Chandler,  James  0.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Discharged  May  28,  1863. 

Carr,  James  R.,  discharged  June  13,  1862. 

Clay,  George  W.,  died  April  2,  1864. 

Galley,  John  S.,  died  April  11,  1864. 

Corliss,  Leonard  B.,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cav.  Oct.  27, 1862. 

Conner,  Joseph  B.,  discharged  on  ace.  of  wounds  Jan.  21, 1862. 

County,  Dennis,  discharged,  date  unknown. 

Cilley,  George  W.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Collins,  Edward  W.,  discharged  Aug.  16, 1861. 

Converse,  Granville,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Dewey,  Jesse  E.,  pro  to  Sergt.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Damon,  George  B.,  deserted  Jan.  24, 1863. 

Dickey,  Lyman  A.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Davis,  James  M.,  deserted  Aug.  2,  1861. 

Dunn,  James  P.,  deserted  Sept.  21, 1861. 

Desmond,  Daniel,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Davis,  John  W.,  taken  prisoner  July  2,  1863.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Eastman,  Moses  L.,  discharged  Jan.  2, 1862. 

Farrow,  Sidney  A.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Ford,  Byron  K.,  died  Oct.  29, 1861. 

Gardner,  Orrin  S.,  deserted  May  24, 1863. 


COMPANY   I.  203 

Gleason,  Joseph  H.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mus.  out  June  21, 1864. 

Gunnison,  Norman  E.,  discharged  Feb.  7, 1863. 

Hazewell,  Eugene  G.,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  27, 1862. 

Haynes,  Martin  A.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Hardy,  Charles  T.,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry  Get.  29, 1862. 

Hubbard,  Luther  P.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

House,  James  M.,  w'd  July  2, 1863.    Pro.  1st  S'gt.   Mus.  out  J'e  21,  1864. 

Hunkins,  Moses  A.,  discharged  Aug.  8,  1861. 

Hall,  Edward,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry  Oct.  27, 1862. 

Hall,  Albert  L.,  discharged  June  2, 1863. 

Howard,  Charles  F.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2,  1863. 

Holt,  Harry,  killed  July  21, 1861. 

Johnson,  George  H.,  discharged. 

Kenaston,  Edgar  D.,  died  March  4,  1862. 

Lawrence,  George  F.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Laroy,  Joseph,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cav.  Oct.  27, 1862. 

Minor,  Michael  C.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Merrill,  Jonathan,  w'd  July  2,  1863.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Morse,  Henry  L.,  killed  July  21,  1861. 

Morgrage,  William  0.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Ogden,  John  E.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Oliver,  Samuel  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Parrott,  Charles  F.,  killed  July  2, 1863. 

Pillsbury,  Henry  M.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Porter,  Solon  F.,  died  March  14,  1862. 

Pendleton,  William  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Robinson,  Albert  B.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Roberts,  Orsino,  missing  July  2,  1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Roundsville,  Charles  W.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Reed,  Jonathan  P.,  discharged  Dec.  23,  1862. 

Rainbosh,  William  S.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Ramsdell,  William  H.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Rahn,  William  J.,  pro.  to  Com.  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Sleeper,  Levi  H.,  Jr.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Sholes,  Albert  E.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 

Swain,  Josiah  S.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Simmons,  Albion  R.,  w'd  Aug.  29,  1862.    Discharged  Nov.  20,  1862. 

Slade,  George  H.,  died  Oct  2,  1863. 

Storey,  Albert,  discharged  Aug.  16,  1861. 

Taft,  John,  discharged,  date  unknown. 

Thompson,  Willard  P.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Tyler,  George  E.,  died  March  3,  1863. 

Vosburg,  Charles  N.,  unaccounted  for. 


204  APPENDIX. 

Wood,  William  W.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Wright,  Charles  B.,  mustered  out  Aug.  23,  1864. 

Whitefield,  Smith  A.,  discharged  Sept.  12,  1862. 

Wells,  Albert  A.,  discharged  Aug.  8,  1861. 

Wilkius,  William  W.,  discharged  Sept.  30,  1861. 

Woods,  Alba,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Woods,  Lyndon  B.,  w'd  July  2,  1863.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864, 

Waldrick,  Lymau,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 


COMPANY   K. 

SERGEANTS. 

Andrew  J.  Sides,  First  Sergeant.    Discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 
George  E.  Sides,  pro.  to  Captain.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 
Charles  W.  Patch,  pro.  2d  Lieut.    Died  of  wounds  July  10, 1863. 
Oliver  F.  Maxwell,  discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 

CORPORALS. 

George  R.  Raitt,  discharged  July  9,  1863. 

Bickford  L.  Rand,  Jr.,  discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 

Christopher  J.  Marshall,  missing  July  21,  1861. 

William  W.  Shaw,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Discharged  July  9, 1863. 

James  Ricker,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Died  of  wounds  Sept.  21, 1862. 

Daniel  D.  Wendall,  discharged  Aug.  1, 1861. 

Rufus  L.  Bean,  pro.  to  2d  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Charles  E.  Gleason,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

MUSICIAN. 

James  W.  Taylor,  re-enlisted. 

WAGONER. 

Benjamin  J.  Lake,  discharged  May  22, 1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Alton,  George  A.,  w'd  July  2,  ?63.    Pro.  Corp.    Mus.  out  J'e  21, 1864. 

Adams,  Samuel,  missing  in  action  July  21, 1861. 

Allen,  Charles  N.,  discharged  Oct.  1, 1863. 

Avery,  John,  deserted  July  15,  1861. 

Allen,  Oliver  N.,  discharged  May  22,  1862. 

Bell,  John  W.,  discharged  May  22, 1862. 

Bell,  Allen  P.,  died  May  6, 1862. 

Blye,  Van  Buren  G.,  re-enlisted. 

Brock  way,  John  R.,  unaccounted  for. 

Boyle,  Hugh,  deserted  July  24,  1861. 


COMPANY   K.  205 

Blaisdell,  Lewis  E.,  missing  in  action  July  21, 1861. 

Chase,  James  H.,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army. 

Danielson,  Nathaniel  M.,  deserted  Jan.  15,  1864,  and  returned. 

Doe,  Joseph  A.,  discharged. 

Dearborn,  John  F.,  pro.  Sergt.    Mus.  out  June  21,  1864. 

Downs,  Charles  W.,  unaccounted  for. 

Dearborn,  Horace  L.,  deserted  Aug.  12,  1862. 

Dame,  Joseph,  discharged  Dec.  24,  1862. 

Fifield,  Francis  A.,  deserted  July  24,  1861. 

Goodwin,  William  H.,  discharged  May  21,  1863. 

Gordon,  Joseph  E.,  discharged  May  22,  1862. 

Gray,  Clarence  S.,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Gammon,  James  T.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Missing  July  2,  '63.    Re-enlisted. 

Gannon,  Thomas,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Huntress,  Charles  E.,  died  Sept.  30, 1862. 

Hill,  Jacob  H.,  deserted  Dec.  1, 1862. 

Hill,  George  E.,  discharged  July  15, 1861. 

Hodgdon,  Harlow  P.,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Harvey,  John,  discharged  April  21,  1862. 

Haines,  John,  discharged  Aug.  7,  1861. 

Holbrook,  Charles  W.,  discharged  Dec.  12,  1861. 

Johnson,  George  C.,  mustered  out  June  21, 1864. 

Janvrin,  Joseph  E.,  pro.  Asst.  Surgeon  15th  N.  H.  V. 

Kenniston,  William  H.,  died  Aug.  3,  1861. 

King,  William  S.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Lear,  Nathaniel  M.,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Lever,  Robert,  discharged  May  22,  1862. 

Leslie,  Edwin  A.,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Long,  Michael  E.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Locke,  James  E.,  pro.  to  1st  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 

Lawson,  William  H.,  discharged  Dec.  9,  1863. 

Lowd,  Sedley  A.,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Manson,  Alvah,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Merrow,  Albert,  pro.  Corp.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Mix,  William  ft.,  pro.  Corp.    Disch.  by  order  Sec.  of  War,  Dec.  22,  1863. 

Murphy,  Jeremiah,  deserted  Aug.  25,  1862.    Returned  March  31,  1863. 

Mclntire,  William  C.,  Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Mahoney,  Jeremiah,  deserted  Aug.  31,  1862.    Arrested  Feb.  12,  1864. 

McDonald,  John  S.,  pro.  Second  Lieut.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

McGraw,  Morris  F.,  honorably  discharged  May  22,  1862. 

Moulton,  Joseph,  pro.  Sergt.    Mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Marr,  John,  missing  at  Bull  Run  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Neligam,  Daniel,  wounded  severely  and  missing  at  Gettysburg. 


206  APPENDIX. 

Norton,  Henry  C.,  discharged  for  disability. 

Oxford,  William  P.,  died  at  Richmond  Aug.  5,  1861. 

Pollock,  John,  deserted  July  24,  18G1. 

Plaisted,  Charles  E.,  re-enlisted.    Pro.  to  Adjutant. 

Palmer,  Nathaniel  P.,  died  at  Harrison's  Landing  Aug.  9,  1862. 

Rodgers,  Joseph  W.,  unaccounted  for. 

Reynolds,  Samuel  E.,  deserted  May  21,  1863. 

Rutlege,  James,  mustered  out  June  21,  1864. 

Riley,  John,  unaccounted  for. 

Roberts,  George  W.,  pro.  to  1st  Lt.    Killed  July  2,  1862. 

Ridge,  Charles,  missing  in  action  July  21,  1861. 

Sawyer,  George,  Jr.,  missing  in  action  July  21,  1861. 

Smith,  Daniel  P.,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Seavey,  James  E.,  drowned  at  Aquia  Creek,  Va.,  Aug.  23,  1862. 

Smith,  Horace  M.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Discharged  on  ace.  of  wounds. 

Spinney,  William,  discharged  June  30,  1861. 

Sides,  Robert  C.,  Jr.,  pro.  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 

Seaver,  Thomas  B.,  discharged  March  15,  1862. 

Steward,  Alexander,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army. 

Sheppard,  Joseph  P.,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army. 

Teague,  Freeman  B.,  deserted  June  5,  1862. 

Twilight,  William  H.,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Taylor,  Samuel,  discharged  Aug.  1,  1861. 

Tenney,  William  H.,  discharged  Oct.  8,  1862. 

Trickey,  George  W.,  discharged  July  15,  1861. 

Walker,  Henry,  killed  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Warren,  Charles  H.,  unaccounted  for. 

West,  Joseph  D.,  missing  in  action,  July  2,  1863. 

Willard,  Andrew  J.,  died  at  Harrison's  Landing,  Aug.  9,  1862. 


RECRUITS. 


Adams,  Orren  S.,  discharged  May  30, 1863. 

Adams,  John,  mustered  out  Sept.  2,  1864. 

Austin,  Charles  F.,  wounded  June  9, 1864.    Mustered  out  Sept.  14, 1864. 

Allen,  Harlan  P.,  deserted  Aug.  4, 1862. 

Allen,  Charles  P.,  discharged  Sept.  28, 1862. 

Allen,  Charles  H.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Mustered  out  Sept.  12,  1864. 

Ashton,  Benjamin  F.,  discharged  May  22, 1862. 

Aldrich,  Oilman,  wounded  at  Williamsburg,  May  5, 1862. 

Austin,  Alonzo  F. 

Ayer,  George  W. 

Adams,  Nathaniel  W.,  wounded  June  3, 1864.    Must,  out  Sept.  12, 1864. 

Alson,  Robert,  wounded  June  3, 1864. 

Allen,  Clark,  wounded  July  5, 1864. 

Ames,  Theophilus. 

Allen,  George  L. 

Adams,  Thomas,  deserted  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  April  9, 1864. 

Alexander,  Julius,  deserted  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  April  9,  1864. 

Anderson,  Henry,  deserted  Jan.  5,  1864. 

Alfarst,  Hilts,  transferred  to  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Anderson,  James,  Transferred  to  Navy  April  28,  1864. 

Barber,  John  H.,  deserted  June  21,  1864. 

Burcham,  Joseph.,  discharged  for  disability. 

Black,  Orrin,  Jr.,  deserted  March  15,  1863. 

Blaisdell,  George,  deserted  at  Bladensburg,  Md.,  Oct.  8,  1861. 

Billings,  Marcus  P.,  deserted  Dec.  16, 1862. 

Brackett,  Charles  A.,  deserted  July  25,  1862. 

Breede,  Frank  T.,  re-enlisted. 

B  arrett,  C.  F.,  missing  at  Gettysburg. 


208  APPENDIX. 

Blye,  Elbridge  G.,  re-enlisted. 

Black,  Silas  L.,  died  Dec.  20, 1861. 

Burnham,  Joseph,  discharged  for  disability. 

Bowen,  Amasa  W.,  discharged  May  23, 1863. 

Burpey,  Merrick  M.,  re-enlisted. 

Batchelder,  John,  discharged. 

Bridge,  Sterry  W.,  mustered  out  Sept  14,1864. 

Bignall,  Thomas  W.,  pro.  Corp.    Killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Buckminster,  Arthur  E.,  re-enlisted. 

Barrows,  Levi  P.,  died  of  wounds  June  15, 1864. 

Brown,  Jerome  H.,  died  June  19, 1862. 

Boutell,  Equality  W.,  discharged  March  29, 1863. 

Berry,  George. 

Bowers,  Charles  W.,  discharged  by  S.  0.  No.  135,  W.  D.,  April  2, 1862. 

Bolio,  Edward,  died  of  wounds  received  June  3, 1864. 

Batchelder,  Sewall  D.,  discharged  May  16, 1863. 

Bean,  Caleb  G. 

Brown,  Harry  F.,  died  March  5, 1863. 

Bean,  Beniah  J.,  wounded  July  5,  1863. 

Bonner,  Wm.  H.,  deserted  June  2, 1864. 

Bassett,  Charles,  re-enlisted. 

Burley,  Josiah,  discharged  Nov.  8, 1861. 

Burnham,  Charles  A.,  pro.  Asst.  Surgeon  Third  N.  H.  V. 

Billings,  Warren,  discharged  Aug  2, 1861. 

Bean,  Joseph,  died  of  wounds  received  June  2, 1862. 

Brown,  George,  died  of  wounds  received  June  3, 1864. 

Bullen,  John,  pro.  to  Hospital  Steward. 

Brown,  David,  wounded  May  16, 1864. 

Biggs,  William,  died  Nov.  4, 1864. 

Barry,  John,  died  of  wounds  received  May  16, 1864. 

Blumrn,  Falsh,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Brown,  George,  died  of  wounds  June  21,  1864. 

Beuton,  Henry,  wounded  Aug.  20, 1864. 

Branke,  Henry,  wounded  June  5, 1864. 

Boodrow,  Frank,  died  Oct.  8, 1864. 

Brady,  Michael,  wounded  May  8, 1864. 

Burnett,  William,  transferred  to  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Brown,  John,  transferred  to  Navy  April  28,  1864. 

Baker,  Augustus,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy,  April  29, 1864. 

Broard,  William,  transferred  to  Navy,  April  29, 1864. 

Cole,  M.  S.,  deserted  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  May  24, 1863. 

Carter,  Charles,  transferred  to  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Crosby,  John,  transferred  to  Navy  April  29, 1864. 


RECRUITS.  209 

Cornell,  William,  died  of  disease  at  New  York,  Oct.  24, 1864. 

Callaver,  Andrew,  transferred  to  Navy  April  27, 1864. 

Clement,  George  F.,  killed  at  Gettysburg. 

Cushiug,  John,  re-enlisted. 

Cruden,  Henry,  died  Feb.  26, 1864. 

Cutler,  Frederick  P.,  discharged  March  26, 1863. 

Corey,  Amos  L.,  discharged  Feb.  2, 1863. 

Colegan,  Abel  W.,  mustered  out  Sept.  14, 1864. 

Calkins,  William,  mustered  out  Sept.  14,  1864. 

Calkins,  Lorenzo,  mustered  out  Sept.  15, 1864. 

Cook,  Herbert  E.,  re-enlisted. 

Cleary,  Cornelius,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2, 1863. 

Carroll,  Philip  S.,  discharged  May  20, 1863. 

Cutler,  Hiram,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  Dec.  14, 1862, 

Crawford,  Thomas,  discharged  Sept.  30, 1862. 

Carpenter,  Ebenezer,  died  Feb.  4, 1864. 

Chamberlain,  George  C.,  discharged  Sept  20, 1862. 

Cole,  Uriah  W.,  killed  May  5,  1862. 

Carr,  Brackett  L.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2,  1863. 

Chase,  Charles  M.,  wounded  May  8,  1864.    Pro.  to  Capt.  Col'd  Troops. 

Chase,  Algernon  F.,  died  Aug.  28, 1862.     ' 

Chickering,  Edwin,  discharged  May  5, 1863. 

Cross,  James  M.,  discharged  May  23,  1863. 

Chickering,  Frank,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Craig,  Allen  A.,  discharged  May  30, 1863, 

Clark,  George  W.,  discharged  Sept.  22,  1863. 

Clifton,  Henry  F.,  mustered  out  Aug.  24, 1864. 

Carr,  Thomas  T.,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Mus.  out  Sept.  16,  1864. 

Chapman,  T.  O.,  discharged  May  29, 1863. 

Copeland,  David  B.,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Crowley,  Timothy,  wounded  May  1, 1864. 

Colligan,  Michael,  wounded  June  3,  1863. 

Cruden,  George, died  Feb.  22,  1864. 

Cavanaugh,  Arthur,  wounded  June  3, 1864. 

Corcoran,  Michael,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Collins,  Thomas,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Clark,  Frank,  wounded  June  30, 1864. 

Coleman,  George  H.,  discharged  July  27, 1864. 

Drummer,  William  C.,  wounded  and  missing  July  2,  1863, 

Dean,  John,  discharged  March  17,  1863. 

Davis,  Martin  V.  B.,  discharged  July  17, 1863. 

Davis,  Amos,  discharged  May  1, 1862. 

Davis,  Harrison  L.,  mustered  out  Sept.  20, 1864. 


210  APPENDIX. 

Dunlap,  Whitney,  discharged  July  9,  1863. 

Danforth,  Johnson  N.,  died  of  wounds  Oct.  4,  1862. 

Douglas,  Ira  (>.,  discharged  July  12,  1862. 

Danforth,  John,  wounded  and  missing  July  2, 1863. 

Daniels,  John  S.,  wounded  June  3, 1864. 

Deets,  George  C.  N.,  discharged  March  2, 1863. 

Dillon,  William,  wounded  and  missing  July  2,  1863. 

Ducham,  Moses,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Durand,  Adolphe,  wounded  May  14,  1864. 

Drapeau,  Michael,  died  of  wounds  received  June  3, 1864. 

Daley,  Peter,  died  of  wounds  received  May  16,  1864. 

Davis,  Sidney,  wounded  Aug.  25,  1864. 

Dirval,  William,  died  July  7,  1864. 

Daley,  Louis,  missing  Oct.  28, 1864. 

Doolittle,  Edgard,  deserted  Sept.  30,  1861. 

Davis,  Orris  F.,  deserted  at  Concord,  May  25, 1863. 

Day,  Morrill  C.,  deserted  March  31, 1862. 

Decker,  Isaac,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Duncan,  Peter,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Dunn,  John,  deserted.     Arrested  April  12,  1864. 

Denick,  Frank,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Emerson,  William  A.,  deserted  at  Washington,  June  27,  1863. 

Erickson,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28, 1864. 

Eastman,  William,  discharged  Sept.  20,  1862. 

Ellis,  David  C.,  deserted  and  returned. 

Everton,  John  W.,  discharged  July  18,  1863. 

Egin,  John,  executed  for  desertion  at  Yorktown,  Va.,  April  15,  1864. 

Ensemof,  Alexander,  died  Aug.  31,  1864. 

Elliott,  Charles,  died  of  wounds  received  June  3,  1864. 

Edgerly,  James  E.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Fisk,  John  I.,  missing  July  2,  1863. 

Fih'eld,  Simon  P.,  re-enlisted. 

Fisher,  Sumner  P.,  wounded  June  3, 1864.    Mustered  out  Sept.  7, 1864. 

Felt,  James  W.,  pro.  to  Corp.    Re-enlisted. 

Fassett,  Luther  W.,  killed  by  rebel  guerilla,  April  2,  1862. 

Freeman,  Nathaniel,  wounded  June  3,  1864.    Must,  out  18G4. 

Fassett,  Joel  E.,  disch.  Oct.  16, 1864. 

Forrest,  Edward  W.,  re-enlisted. 

Fulsom,  Asa,  dis.  on  account  of  wounds,  March  14, 1863. 

Fairfield,  Freeman  W.,  wounded  June  3, 1864.    Must  out  Aug.  25, 1864. 

Fraser,  Alexander,  pro.  Sergt. 

Fray,  George,  wounded  June  3, 1864. 

Freeman,  Charles,  died  Oct.  6, 1864. 


RECRUITS.  211 

Fife,  John,  deserted  and  returned. 

Fry,  Henry,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Guion,  J.,  deserted  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  10, 1863. 

Gregg,  William,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy,  April  28, 1864. 

Green,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy,  April  29, 1864. 

Gates,  George,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy,  April  29, 1864. 

Gregory,  William  H.,  discharged  Sept.  25, 1861. 

Gleason,  Aaron  F.,  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps. 

Gilbert,  Charles  N.,  discharged  May  15,  1863. 

Gowdey,  Edwin  W.,  discharged  June  23,  1863. 

Guillon,  Gleneira,  mustered  out  Sept.  12, 1864. 

Gould,  Charles  0.,  killed  May  16, 1864. 

Goodwin,  E.  L.,  discharged  Jan.  22,  1862. 

Grave,  Frederick,  killed  May  16,  1864. 

Gilbert,  George,  died  Aug.  6,  1863. 

Gaylor,  James,  killed  May  16,  1864. 

Head,  Orrin  M.,  discharged. 

Hutton,  Samuel,  re-enlisted. 

Howard,  Charles  A.,  re-enlisted. 

Hubbard,  Deloss,  discharged  May  15,  1863. 

Howe,  Frank  E.,  killed  at  Fair  Oaks,  June  23,  1862. 

Harvey,  Charles  F.,  discharged  November  29,  1862. 

Hodgkins,  Daniel  G.,  killed  May  5, 1862. 

Hurd,  George,  discharged  Feb.  1, 1863. 

Hanson,  John,  wounded  July  2, 1863. 

Home,  James  M. 

Hubbard,  I.  P. 

Hoyt,  Francis  S.,  died  in  hands  of  enemy  Nov.  5, 1864. 

Hill,  George  H.,  wounded  June  1, 1864. 

Hall,  Isaac  G.,  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  June  15,  1864. 

Hutton,  James,  re-enlisted. 

Hewey,  Francis  H.,  promoted  to  Q.  M.  Sergeant. 

Hannaford,  James  M.,  mustered  out  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Heath,  John,  discharged  May  16, 1863. 

Hayes,  James,  wounded  and  captured  at  Gettysburg  July  2, 1863. 

Hoyt,  Charles  W.,  died  Aug.  14, 1863. 

Holt,  Henry,  executed  for  desertion  April  15, 1864, 

Howes,  James,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Hartwell,  John  H.,  wounded  at  Cold  Harbor  June  3, 1864. 

Horton,  George  G.,  deserted  June  13,  1862. 

Hubbard,  Daniel  R.,  dishonorably  discharged  Feb.  9,  1864. 

Harop,  Mark,  deserted  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  April  29, 1863. 

Hart,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28, 1864. 


212  APPENDIX. 

Hendrick,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28,  1864. 

Holt,  Amos,  pro.  Corp'l.    Transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Holmes,  Andrew  J.,  discharged  by  order  May  12,  1864. 

Johnson,  Peter,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Joslin,  Joseph  R.,  discharged  June  16, 1864. 

Joslin,  Henry  H.,  discharged. 

Jones,  Luther  D.,  mastered  out  Aug.  31, 1864. 

Jones,  Charles  A.,  mustered  out  Aug.  24,  1864. 

Jones,  Burley  K.,  died  of  wounds  June  25,  1862. 

Jenson,  Jens,  died  at  Port  Monroe,  Dec.  14,  1864. 

Jones,  Thomas,  wounded  July,  1864. 

Johnson,  William,  wounded  June  3, 1864. 

Kempton,  William  H.,  wounded  June  3, 1864. 

Kendall,  John  A.,  discharged  Sept.  19,  1863. 

Kerby,  Joseph,  killed  July  2,  1863. 

Kelley,  William,  wounded  Aug.  19, 1864. 

Kelley,  William  J.,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Kelley,  John,  wounded  July  3,  1864.    Deserted. 

Kimball,  Hubbard  S.,  dischaiged  for  disability  at  N.  Y.,  Dec.  13, 1864. 

Kelley,  David,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Kennison,  John,  discharged  for  disability  May  12,  1864. 

Kerby,  Thomas,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864i 

Littlefield,  Charles  H.,  deserted  June  30,  1862. 

Lang,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Lawrence,  Houghton,  discharged  July  11,  1862. 

Leary,  Jeremiah,  re-enlisted. 

Legro,  Edgar  B.,  pro.  to  1st  Lieut,  and  Adjutant. 

Lego,  Eben,  mustered  out  Aug.  27, 1864. 

Langmaid,  J.  G.,  mustered  out  Aug.  23, 1864. 

Linden,  James  F.,  mustered  out  Sept.  16,  1864. 

Lanphire,  Orlando,  mustered  out  Aug.  24,  1864. 

Lehan,  Charles  H.,  discharged  April  27, 1864. 

Leathers,  John  W.  P.,  discharged  Sept.  20, 1862. 

Lloyd,  William  B.,  died  Nov.  30,  1864. 

Lair,  George,  died  June  24, 1864. 

Leblanck,  Octavia,  wounded  June  1, 1864. 

Lehman,  Lewis,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Larion,  Peter,  died  Aug.  1, 1864. 

Lynch,  John,  wounded  June  31, 1864. 

Lowd,  George,  missing  in  action  June  3, 1864. 

Lord,  Thomas,  missing  Oct.  28,  1864. 

Lumbeck,  Asaph,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

McMillen,  Thomas,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 


BEC11UITS.  213 

McNichols,  Daniel,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 
Morton,  Hiram  F.,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Nary  April  29,  1864. 
Miller,  Alexander,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 
Morrison,  Frank,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28,  1864. 
Mullen,  Herman,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28, 1864. 
Morris,  Robert,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy,  April  29,  18(54. 
Murphy,  Charles,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 
Morgan,  Frank  W.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Re-enlisted. 
Martin,  Hazen  B.,  discharged  June  14, 1863. 
Martin,  James  M.,  died  Aug.  11, 1862. 
Morgan,  Paul  C.,  discharged  March  '20, 1863. 
Martin,  James,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army,  Dec.  6,  18G2. 
Martin,  Addison  S.,  discharged  Aug  ,  1864. 
Moore,  Charles  A.,  killed  July  2,  18(53. 
Moores,  Timothy  G.,  discharged  March  14,  1863. 
Harden,  Alfred  L.,  discharged  March  10,  1863. 
Morse,  William  E.,  died  of  wounds  Dec.  16,  1863. 
Martin,  Daniel  S.,  died  of  wounds  Dec.  16, 1863. 
Moulton,  Hosea  B.,  discharged  Dec.  10,  1863. 
Messer,  Fifield  H.,  died  of  wounds  received  June  30, 1864. 
Messenger,  Addison  G.,  killed  June  3,  1864. 
Moore,  John  H.,  mustered  out  Aug.  20, 1864. 
McKinnon,  George,  mustered  out  Aug.  20, 1864. 
McKinnon,  Walter  H.,  mustered  out  Aug.  18,  1864. 
Monroe,  Robert,  discharged  Aug.  16,  1864. 

McKinnon,  Malcom,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Discharged-  Dec.  22,  1863. 
Mitchell,  Edward  I.,  discharged  Oct.  1, 1862. 
McEray,  John,  killed  at  Drury's  Bluff,  Va.,  May  15,  1864. 
McPherson,  John,  missing  at  Fair  Oaks,  Oct.  28,  1864. 
McDonald,  Owen,  executed  for  desertion  at  Williamsburg,  April  29,  1864. 
Marks,  William,  died  of  wounds  received  June  3,  1864. 
Meyers,  Henry,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 
McMartin,  John,  died  of  disease  Nov.  12,  1864. 
Magilio,  Joseph,  wounded  June  1,  1864.    Deserted. 
Mason,  Lewis,  missing  at  Fair  Oaks,  Oct.  28, 1864. 
McGuire,  James,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 
Moore,  Samuel,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 
Nutter,  Samuel  0.,  enlisted  in  Regular  Army  Dec.  5, 1862. 
Nichols,  Fred  H.,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Mus.  out  Aug.  20, 1864. 
Newell,  James,  mustered  out  Oct.  31,  1864. 
Newman,  Charles,  killed  at  Cold  Harbor  June  4, 1864. 
Nielsen,  John,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 
wton,  John,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 


214  APPENDIX.. 

Nealy,  Ezra,  died  Sept.  30, 1861. 

Noyes,  Fail-field,  died  Dec.  16,  186-. 

Noyes,  Lucius  P.,  missing  July  2,  1863.    Mus.  out  Sept.  16,  1864. 

O'Brien,  Thomas,  discharged  June  3,  1863. 

Omerson,  John  A.,  discharged  May  22, 1863. 

O'Brien,  Cornelius,  mustered  out  Aug.  24,  1864. 

O'Malley,  Thomas,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Olsen,  Julius,  died  Feb.  4, 1864. 

Plummer,  E.  J.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2,  1863. 

Putney,  Ira  A.,  missing  July  2, 1864.    Mus.  out  Aug.  22,  1864. 

Parker,  William,  discharged  Aug.  8, 1861. 

Parker,  Phineas  A.,  discharged  May  23,  1863. 

Prentiss,  Elbridge  G.,  re-enlisted. 

Phelps,  Charles,  killed  Ang.  29,  1862. 

Patterson,  Samuel  F.,  mustered  out  Sept.  11,  18fi4. 

Piper,  Thomas  W.,  pro.  to  Sergt.    Died  of  wounds  Aug.  19,  1863. 

Pnryea,  John,  deserted  March  10, 1863. 

Pierce,  Alexander,  died  April  9,  1864. 

Poor,  Joseph,  missing  at  Fair  Oaks,  Oct.  28, 1864. 

Page,  Charles,  died  Nov.  12,  1864. 

Pollard,  Levi  J.,  wounded  July  2,  1863.    Mus.  out  Aug.  24,  1864. 

Putney,  Henry  P.,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  Sept.  26,  1862. 

Peake,  James,  wounded  May  16, 1864. 

Parker,  George,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28,  1864. 

Peterson,  Charles,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Presly,  Thomas,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Parker,  Charles,  drowned  in  attempting  to  desert  April  7, 1862. 

Quin,  Carlos,  discharged  for  disability. 

Ruffle,  Jonah,  discharged  Aug.  20,  1862. 

Richardson,  Edward,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 

Rand,  Ira,  discharged  Feb.  4, 1863. 

Rand,  Cyrus,  enlisted  in  2d  U.  S.  Cav.  Oct.  27, 1862. 

Rugg,  Andrew  J.,  died  July  24,  1862. 

Ripley,  Joseph  F.,  deserted  at  Falmouth  Feb.,  1863. 

Rolfe,  John  S.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Ross,  Merrick  M.,  wounded  at  Williamsburg,  May  5,  1862. 

Richardson,  Samuel  C.,  discharged  for  disability. 

Ruffle,  Charles,"re-enlisted. 

Rice,  Frederick  A.  S.,  deserted  Aug.  25, 1862. 

Ruffle,  Samuel,  died  Aug.  15, 1864. 

Rand,  John  C.,  killed  Aug.  29, 1862. 

Roberts,  Charles  0.,  wounded  July  2, 1863. 

Raudlett,  James,  trans,  to  Inv.  Corps  Feb.  4, 1864. 


RECRUITS .  215 

Riley,  Thomas,  deserted  April  9th,  1863. 

Rouse,  Patrick,  deserted  April  11, 1864. 

Roberts,  Jean,  deserted  Feb.  19,  1864. 

Richardson,  James  F.,  mustered  out  Aug.  24,  1864. 

Rogers.  J.  W.,  wounded  June  3,  1864.    Mustered  out  Aug.  20,  1864. 

Ruffle,  George,  discharged  May  30, 1863. 

Robinson,  C.  N.,  discharged  June  16, 18G3. 

Rand,  Charles  J.,  discharged  Aug.  31,  1861. 

Ricker,  Nathaniel,  promoted  to  Prin.  Mus.  July  11,  1863. 

Root,  Byron,  discharged  Sept.  8,  1862. 

Roarke,  William  H.,  pro.  to  2d  Lieut.  U.  S.  Colored  Troops. 

Robertson,  Hugh,  died  Nov.  13,  1864. 

Rose,  John  W.,  died  Oct.  9,  1864. 

Roberts,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28, 1864. 

Reinhart,  Joseph,  deserted  Feb.  19, 1864. 

Rowden,  Thomas,  deserted  April  9,  1864. 

Reed,  Charles,  deserted  from  Navy  and  returned. 

Riley,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Stevens,  Reuben  F.,  honorably  discharged  May  22,  1862. 

Sargent,  Charles  G.,  deserted. 

Stanley,  Dennison,  deserted  Oct.  13, 1862. 

Straw,  James  B.,  deserted  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  April  29,  1863. 

Smith,  Thomas,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  28,  1864. 

Sweeney,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Smith,  Albert,  discharged  for  disability  July  12,  1864. 

Steele,  William,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Stevens,  Rueben  F.,  discharged  May  22, 1862. 

Sawyer,  Peter,  deserted  April  11, 1864,  and  returned. 

Seavey,  Jeremiah,  re-enlisted. 

Surnam,  Thomas,  died  of  wounds  July  2,  1863. 

Staro,  John,  deserted  Jan.  20,  1864. 

Sweeney,  John,  deserted  from  Navy  and  returned. 

Sands,  John,  deserted  Jan.  18,  1864. 

Smith,  Edward,  deserted  from  Navy  and  returned. 

Stenny,  Thomas,  missing  July  2,  1863. 

Stevens,  B.  F.,  wounded  and  missing  July  2,  1863. 

Stimpson,  Curtis,  wounded  June  3,  1864.    Mus.  out  Sept.  9,  1864. 

Stickney,  Silas  S.,  died  of  wounds  received  July  2,  1863. 

Sumner,  Alonzo  A.,  discharged  June  9,  1863. 

Stone,  Charles  A.,  mustered  out  Sept.  14,  1864. 

Streeter,  Charles  H.,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 

Sumner,  David,  discharged,  date  unknown. 

Spalding,  Milan  D.,  promoted  to  Sergeant.    Re-enlisted. 


216  APPENDIX. 

Stone,  Albert  G.,  died  of  wounds  Nov.  2,  1862. 

Stack,  James,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 

Straw,  William,  deserted  June  11,  18G3. 

Sawyer,  Daniel,  unaccounted  for. 

Sawyer.  Benjamin,  deserted  June  27,  1863. 

Spague,  William  M.,  promoted  to  Corporal.    Re-enlisted. 

Stebbins,  Warren  L.,  mustered  out  Sept.  15, 1861. 

Scott,  John  A.,  re-enlisted. 

Stark,  Samuel  A.,  mustered  out  Sept.  12,  1864. 

Safford,  Otis,  mustered  out  Sept.  2,  1864. 

Satter,  Atwine,  died  in  hands  of  enemy  Aug.  7,  1862. 

Sage,  Thomas,  died  Oct.  17,  1862. 

Shattuck,  Henry,  discharged  Sept.  22,  1862. 

Stevenson,  William  B.,  discharged,  date  unknown. 

Sanborn,  DeWitt  C.,  killed  Aug.  29,  1862. 

Smith,  L.  Alba,  missing  in  action  July  2,  1863. 

Stevens,  Benjamin  G.,  killed  at  Gettysburg,  July  2,  1863. 

Sherwood,  Jason,  wounded  July  2,  1864.    Died  Aug.  22,  1864. 

Sanborn,  James  H.,  wounded  July  2,  1863.     Wounded  May  16,  1864. 

Smith,  William,  discharged  Aug.  29,  1864. 

Southworth,  Orliti  R.,  mustered  out  Aug.  24,  1864. 

Stevens,  William,  deserted  from  Navy  and  returned. 

Sidney,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  24, 1864. 

Summers,  William,  mustered  out  Aug.  23,  1864. 

Sawtelle,  Amaziah,  w'd  June  24,  '64.    Pro.  Corp.  Mus.  out  Aug.  24,  ?64. 

Spaulding,  John  L.,  mustered  out  Oct.  29,  1863. 

Stevens,  John  B.,  discharged,  date  unknown. 

Simpson,  John,  discharged  July  9,  1862. 

Smith,  William,  discharged  Sept.  7,  1864. 

Smith,  John,  died  of  wounds  received  June  24, 1864. 

Sullivan,  Patrick,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Schaffer,  Conrad,  died  June  19,  1864. 

Smith,  Patrick,  killed  near  Petersburg  Aug.  23, 1864. 

St  Pierre,  Prudent,  killed  in  action  June  3,  1864. 

Schutz,  George,  discharged  June  18, 1864. 

Smith,  William,  died  Sept.  11,  1864. 

Scott,  James,  executed  for  desertion  at  Williamsburg,  April  29, 1864. 

Seymour,  Joseph,  died  of  wounds  June  23,  1864. 

Smith,  Peter,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Sauuders,  Joseph,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Stevens,  Edward  R.,  wounded  June  1,  1864. 

Totteu,  J.,  killed  at  Gettysburg  July  2,  1863. 

Thompson,  Henry  A.,  discharged  June  9, 1863, 


RECRUITS.  217 

Tyrrell,  Everett,  discharged  May  23,  1863. 

Thatcher,  Lucius,  discharged  Oct.  16,  1862. 

Thurston,  James,  deserted  May  24,  1863,  and  captured. 

Thomas,  Jener  B.,  discharged  Feb.,  1863. 

Thayer,  Nathaniel,  pro.  to  Hospital  Steward  U.  S.  Army,  Sept.  17,  1864. 

Tyler,  Moses  C.,  discharged  July  9, 1863. 

Tyler,  Henry  C.,  re-enlisted. 

Tuttle,  Charles  D.,  re-enlisted. 

Terrell,  Davis  B.,  mustered  out  Aug.  24,  1864. 

Thomas,  John,  wounded  Aug.  6,  1864. 

Traynor,  Edward,  wounded  May  18,  1864. 

Thompson,  Joseph,  deserted. 

Tracy,  James,  discharged  July  10,  1864. 

Taylor,  James,  killed  May  16,  1864. 

Tatro,  Joseph,  deserted  at  Concord,  N.  H.,  May  20, 1863. 

Thompson,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy,  April  29,  1864. 

Veuney,  Henry,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Varney,  Richard  M.,  re-enlisted. 

Webber,  Conrad,  died  Feb.  8,  1863. 

Worth,  Charles  H.,  killed  July  2,  1863. 

Ward  well,  Lyman  E.,  pro.  Corp.    Mas.  out  Sept.  16,  1864. 

Whipple,  William,  discharged  July  9, 1863. 

Warren,  John  S.,  discharged  Oct.  14,  1864. 

White,  William,  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  May  15, 1863. 

Wood,  John  R.,  died  in  Hospital,  Nov.,  1862. 

Williams,  Charles  H.,  mustered  out  Sept.  13,  1864. 

Wilber,  William,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Wilcox,  Calvin  H.,  discharged  Oct.  12,  1862. 

White,  Rodolphus  J.,  died  Dec.  20,  1862. 

White,  Asa  M.,  discharged,  date  unknown. 

Wiggins,  George  A.,  discharged  Sept.  19,  1862. 

Williams,  Augustus  M.,  deserted  March  30, 1862. 

Wright,  Samuel  D.,  deserted  June  27,  1863. 

Whidden,  William,  discharged  Oct.  7,  1862. 

Workman,  George,  deserted  March  5,  1863. 

Wilson,  Harrison  H.,  died  of  wounds  Sept.  20,  1862. 

Walker,  Henry  J.,  discharged  June  9, 1863. 

Wetherbee,  Edward  H.,  wounded  July  2,  '63.    Discharged  Jan.  1,  1864. 

Watson,  John  L.,  discharged  Sept.  22,  18G3. 

Woods,  John  L.,  discharged  June  23,  1863. 

Wilson,  Asa  M.,  died  Sept.  3,  1863. 

Walsh,  James,  wounded  Aug.  18, 1864. 

Woodward,  Samuel,  w'd  July  2,  1863.    Dis.  on  ace.  w'ds  Oct.  14, 1864. 


218  APPENDIX. 

Willey,  John  H.,  mustered  out  Aug.  28,  1864. 

Wright,  John  B.,  mustered  out  Aug.  23,  1864. 

Wright,  William  F.,  died  Sept.  27,  1862. 

Westerman,  William,  died  of  wounds  June  14,  1864. 

Waldam,  Earnest,  wounded  June  3, 1864. 

Weeks,  Charles  B.,  died  of  wounds  July  3, 1863. 

Woods,  Henry,  discharged  Aug.  14,  1864. 

Watson,  James,  wounded  June  3,  1864. 

Williams,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  20, 1864. 

Weiland,  Gustavus  A.,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Tumbul,  deserted  in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  June  2,  1864. 

Willoughby,  George  D.,  unaccounted  for. 

Williams,  Henry,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Williams,  John  T.,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29,  1864. 

Wilson,  John,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Wilson,  Henry,  transferred  to  U.  S.  Navy  April  29, 1864. 

Young,  Joseph,  killed  in  action  June  5,  1864. 


SPECIAL   ORDER   OF   GEN.   SICKLES 

ON    THE    DETACHMENT    OF    THE    SECOND    REGIMENT     FROM    THE    ARMY 
OF    THE    POTOMAC,   ON    DUTY    IN    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 


HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  ARMY  CORPS, 

25th  February,  1863. 
SPECIAL  ORDERS,  i 
No.  13.          f 

The  General  Commanding  cannot  sever,  even  temporarily,  his  rela 
tions  with  the  Second  New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  without  expressing 
his  regret  that  this  gallant  regiment  no  longer  belongs  to  his  command. 

Entering  the  service  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  this  regiment  has 
participated  with  distinction  in  the  combats  which  have  made  the  cam 
paigns  of  this  army  illustrious. 

Unchallenged  in  loyalty  as  in  valor,  the  devotion  of  the  Second  New 
Hampshire  to  our  sacred  cause  is  to-day  as  unyielding  as  when  the  fall 
of  Sumter  inflamed  the  Union. 

Soldiers  !  your  patriotic  State  will  soon  fill  up  your  ranks.  You  will 
be  greeted  at  home  with  affectionate  welcome  by  those  who  appreciate 
your  worth,  and  share  your  unselfish  love  of  country. 

You  will,  perhaps,  encounter  not  a  few  who  find  everything  to  deplore 
in  the  means  employed  to  suppress  this  rebellion,  and  nothing  to  com 
mend,  except  their  own  exertions  to  confer  authority  upon  those  who 
apologize  for  treason,  and  sue  for  peace  with  the  traitors  who  spurn 
them.  You  have  offered  your  own  lives  for  the  Union.  You  have  buried 
many  brave  comrades  on  the  bloody  fields  of  the  rebellion.  You  will 
know  how  to  repel  the  approach  of  renegades  who  would  betray  the 
cause  for  which  your  flag  has  been  proudly  borne  in  battle. 

To  your  Commanding  Officer,  Colonel  GILMAN  MARSTON,  —  twice 
wounded  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  distinguished  for  gallantry  in  the 
field  and  for  signal  ability  in  the  national  councils  —  I  desire  to  acknowl- 


220  GEN.  SICKLES'  ORDER. 

edge  my  obligations  for  bis  able  and  zealous  co-operation  as  an  officer  of 
this  command. 

Your  comrades  in  those  heroic  Divisions  which  are  forever  inseparable 
from  the  names  of  HOOKER  and  KEARNEY,  will  always  cherish  their  recol 
lection  of  the  glorious  service  in  which  you  have  been  associated ;  nor 
will  they  cease  to  look  with  solicitude  to  the  day,  which  all  hope  will  not 
be  distant,  when  you  will  return  to  the  THIRD  ARMY  COBPS  with  renova 
ted  ranks  and  nudiminished  ardor,  eager  to  share  with  us  the  honors  of 
new  and  eventful  campaigns. 

By  command  of 

D.  E.  SICKLES, 

Brigadier  General. 
(Signed)  0.  H.  HART, 

A.  A.  General. 
Official :    H.  D.  F.  YOUNG, 

Capt.  and  Aid  •  de  -  Camp. 


OFFICIAL   REPORT   OF   COL.   BAILEY 

ON   THE    ACTION    OF    THE    SECOND    NEW    HAMPSHIRE    REGIMENT    IN 
THE     BATTLE    OF     GETTYSBURG,    PA. 


,UNTEERS.  } 
,D  CORPS.   V 

i,  1863.      ) 


HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  REGIMENT  N.  H.  VOLUNTEERS. 
THIRD  BRIGADE,  SECOND  DIVISION,  THIRD  CORPS. 
Near  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  5, 

GENERAL:  —  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
part  taken  by  my  regiment  on  the  second  inst.,  in  the  battle  at  this  place  : 

Commencing  at  the  time  it  was  detached  from  your  command,  it  then 
being  in  position  with  your  brigade  in  front  of  the  Emmetsburg  road,  at 
three  o'clock  P.  M.,  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  order  to  report  to 
General  GRAHAM,  and  immediately  moving  by  double-quick  in  the  front,  I 
had  the  honor  to  announce  myself  to  that  General  with  twenty-four  com 
missioned  officers  and  three  hundred  and  thirty  rifles.  I  was  at  once 
ordered  to  support  Battery  G,  First  New  York  Artillery,  and  one  section 
of  a  battery  unknown,  all  light  twelve-pounders,  brass ;  in  this  position  my 
left  rested  upon  the  right  of  the  Sixty-Third  Pennsylvania,  my  right  cov 
ered  by  a  wood  house  situated  upon  the  Emmetsburg  road,  my  line  form 
ing  a  right  angle  with  that  road.  Two  hundred  yards  in  my  front  the 
Third  Maine  Regiment  was  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  At  four  o'clock, 
while  experiencing  a  terrific  fire  of  spherical  case  and  canister  from 
batteries  in  my  front  and  on  my  right  six  hundred  and  fifty  yards  distant, 
I  directed  the  rolls  of  my  companies  to  be  called  and  found  but  eight  of 
the  total  number  equipped  absent.  These  had  fallen  out  of  the  ranks 
from  sunstroke  and  exhaustion,  while  moving  by  double-quick  to  the 
position.  At  4 : 30  P.  M.,  the  Third  Maine  were  withdrawn  from  our 
front  to  our  rear  and  about  this  time  a  battery  and  a  section  of  Rodman 
pieces  were  substituted  for  those  we  were  supporting;  these  pieces  were 
worked  with  great  inefficiency  and  at  five  o'clock  it  was  observed  that  a 


222  APPENDIX. 

brigade  of  the  enemy  was  advancing  on  our  right  in  column  of  battalion 
massed,  while  two  regiments  were  moving  directly  parallel  with  my  front 
to  the  left,  evidently  with  design  to  turn  that  flank.  I  reported  the  facts 
to  General  GRAHAM  and  asked  permission  to  charge  the  enemy ;  being 
close  upon  us,  so  near  that  the  officer  commanding  the  section  of  battery 
spiked  his  pieces,  fearful  that  he  should  lose  them.  The  General  gave  me 
directions  to  go  forward.  When  I  gave  the  order  my  regiment  started 
immediately,  and  advanced  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  at  a  run  with  a 
yell  and  such  impetuosity  as  to  cause  the  enemy  to  return  to  a  ravine  two 
hundred  and  fifty  yards  in  our  front,  where  they  were  screened  from  our 
fire,  when  I  directed  the  fire  of  my  battalion  to  the  left  oblique  upon  the 
two  regiments  moving  along  my  front  by  the  flank  at  about  the  same  dis 
tance.  My  fire  was  so  galling,  assisted  by  that  from  the  Third  Maine 
which  had  come  up  and  taken  post  upon  my  left,  as  to  cause  them  to 
break  and  seek  shelter,  when  my  attention  was  again  called  to  my  right, 
strengthened  by  the  Sixty-Third  Pennsylvania,  forming  at  right  angles 
with  my  front  and  parallel  with  the  Emmetsburg  road,  upon  which  was 
advancing  the  brigade  of  the  enemy  moving  by  battalions  in  mass  in  line 
of  battle.  I  immediately  directed  the  fire  of  my  regiment  to  the  right 
oblique  full  upon  it ;  yet  their  line  of  fire  assisted  by  a  terrible  discharge 
of  spherical  case  from  their  batteries  caused  the  Sixty-Third  Pennsylvania, 
to  return,  and  at  the  same  moment  the  Third  Maine  moved  to  the  rear, 
though  in  good  order,  two  hundred  yards.  Finding  myself  thus  unsup 
ported  and  the  enemy  still  advancing,  I  ordered  my  regiment  to  fall  back 
slowly,  firing,  which  was  fully  executed.  I  moved  to  the  rear  one  hundred 
and  fifty  yards  and  halted  my  line  under  the  brow  of  the  hill,  halting  also 
on  the  brow  to  give  a  volley  to  the  enemy,  then  distant  but  twenty  yards. 
The  position  of  the  three  regiments  was  that  of  echelon  at  about  twenty 
paces,  my  regiment  being  the  apex.  The  enemy  continued  advancing  till 
they  reached  the  brow  of  the  hill  when  their  left  swept  towards  the  Sixty- 
Third  Pennsylvania,  in  such  overwhelming  numbers  as  to  cause  it  to  give 
way,  and  fearing  that  those  regiments  which  had  been  observed  marching 
towards  my  left  might  appear  upon  that  flank,  and  knowing  our  efforts 
must  prove  futile  against  such  fearful  odds,  I  gave  the  order  to  retire, 
which  was  done  quite  rapidly  yet  coolly  and  without  excitement,  many 
halting  to  fire  upon  the  enemy  as  they  went.  I  rejoined  the  brigade  at 
about  6  :  30  P.  M.,  fearfully  diminished  in  numbers,  yet  firm  and  fearless 
still. 

This  battalion  entered  the  fight  with  a  firm  determination  to  do  or  die, 
and  the  long  lists  of  fallen  comrades  already  submitted  will  show  how 
well  that  resolution  was  kept.  When  all  did  so  well  it  would  be  invidious 
to  make  comparisons.  Let  it  suffice  to  say  they  did  their  part  as  becomes 
BOMS  of  the  Old  Granite  State.  For  our  fallen  braves  who  have  so  glo- 


COL.  BAILEY'S  REPORT.  223 

riously  perished  fighting  for  their  country  we  drop  a  comrade's  tear,  — 
while  we  would  extend  our  heartfelt  sympathy  to  those  dear  ones  far 
away,  who  find  the  ties  of  kindred  and  friends  thus  rudely  severed,  and 
for  those  who  must  suffer  untold  agony  and  pain  through  long  weeks  of 
convalescence,  our  earnest  sympathy,  yet  leaving  them  to  the  watchful 
care  of  Him  who  will  not  prove  unmindful  of  their  necessities. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

ED.  L.  BAILEY, 

Col.  Id  N.  H.  Vols. 


LIST   OF   BATTLES 


IN    WHICH    THE     SECOND    NEW     HAMPSHIRE     REGIMENT    HAD     BEEN 

ENGAGED    UP    TO    TIME    OF    MUSTER    OUT    OF    THE 

ORIGINAL    MEMBERS     NOT     RE -ENLISTED. 


1.  First  Bull  Run,  July  21, 1861. 

2.  Siege  of  Yorktown,  April  11, 1862,  to  May  3, 1862. 

3.  Williamsburg,  May  2,  1865. 

4.  Skirmish  at  Pair  Oaks,  June  23, 1862. 

5.  Fair  Oaks,  June  25,  1862. 

6.  Savage  Station,  June  27,  1862. 

7.  Peach  Orchard,  June  28,  1862. 

8.  Glendale.  June  30,  1862. 

9.  Malvern  Hill,  First,  July  1,  1862. 

10.  Malvern  Hill,  Second,  August  5,  1862. 

11.  Bristow  Station,  August  27,  1862. 

12.  Second  Bull  Run,  August  29,  1862. 

13.  Chantilly,  Sept.  1,  1862. 

14.  Fredericksburg,  December  11  — 15,  1862. 

15.  Gettysburg,  July  1—3,  1864. 

16.  Wapping  Heights,  July  23,  1863. 

17.  Swift  Creek,  near  Petersburg,  May  8-,  1864. 

18.  Drury's  Bluff,  May  14  — 16,  1864. 

19.  Cold  Harbor,  June  2,  1864. 


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